Driving

There is only one way to find out if an electric car suits you, and that is ... try it out yourself! And then put it to the test, not for an hour but for a month or more. The ALD eFlex test drive offers you this opportunity. You can drive at a discounted lease rate for at least 1 month. And if you don't like it, you can return the car to us at no extra cost. To learn more about this service, visit: https://www.aldautomotive.nl/zakelijk-leasen/auto-leasen/proefrijden-elektrische-auto

Interested in an electric car?

See our private lease offers here

See our business lease offers here

Yes, all cars (fuel and electric) must meet the same legal safety standards. The cars are designed and built to ensure a high level of safety for drivers and maintain battery integrity in case of accidents. In fact, looking at the top ten vehicles rated by Euro NCAP, we see that most of the vehicles listed are electric! Although fires regularly make the news, research in several countries shows that electric cars have no higher risk of fires. Moreover, electric technology will also change the way we drive. The EV powertrain features encourage a smoother, more relaxed driving style.

Not all electric cars come with a standard charging cable. We always recommend discussing this with the dealer or checking the order confirmation. If an electric cable is included, it is usually a 230v charging cable. This allows you to charge at home via a normal power outlet in case of an emergency. Do not use it every day for normal charging. Not all outlets can handle the high wattages needed to charge your electric car. After a while, to be sure, you should check if the socket is getting hot; if so, stop charging. Public charging requires a Menekkes type 2 charging cable. It is never standard and must always be ordered separately from the car.

With a private lease, in addition to a possible purchase subsidy and the elimination of road tax until 2024, you benefit from lower costs per kilometre because electricity is cheaper than fuel. You also benefit from a lower taxable benefit rate as a business lease driver. The taxable benefit rate for electric cars will be 16% as of 1 January 2023. Up to €30,000 of the electric car's catalogue value, the taxable benefit rate is 16%; above that, you're charged 22%.

Interested in an electric car?

See our private lease offers here

See our business lease offers here

It depends on how much you drive each day, how many years you will continue to drive the car and what class the car falls into. Depending on the car and the duration of your lease, the tipping point is between 20,000 and 30,000 km/year. Because this calculation depends on several factors, our employees are happy to provide you with tailor-made advice.

Just as you would with a car with an internal combustion engine, call ANWB/Driver Care if you drive electric and need help. The ANWB will take care of it for you: tow the car to the nearest charging station/fast charger. Or, in case of technical failure, tow the car to the nearest garage.

Whichever car you drive, for you as a leaseholder, the damage is always handled the same. The repair process for an electric car is different for the body shop because special safety regulations apply. This results in higher costs for repairing damage to electric cars, but this is brand-dependent rather than EV-dependent. Tesla, for example, is more expensive compared to other brands.

Orienting can be done in several ways. Our employees will, of course, be happy to advise you on choosing the right car. For more info, you can also check out the EV Help Desk and accompanying app from the Electric Drivers Association. The EV database lists all (soon to be) available electric cars, and E-Drivers provides you with the latest news on electric driving.

Interested in an electric car?

See our private lease offers here

See our business lease offers here

Temperature affects the range of an electric car. In general, extreme heat or cold can adversely affect battery performance. At low temperatures, the battery may operate less efficiently. At high temperatures, the battery may overheat. If you are planning a longer drive in your electric car, it is important to consider the temperature whilst doing so.

WLTP is the abbreviation for Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure. This is a global standard for uniformly estimating the energy consumption and driving range of electric cars. This allows you to compare the consumption and range of electric cars more accurately and reliably.

You certainly can. But be sure to check in advance that your electric car is suitable for towing a trailer or caravan. Sometimes the positioning of the battery makes installing a tow bar impossible. Or the battery simply cannot handle the extra load well (enough). Also keep in mind that a trailer or caravan can reduce your range considerably – in some cases by up to 50%.

An electric car has fewer moving parts and is therefore less maintenance prone than a car with a traditional internal combustion engine. Of course, maintenance is important in order to keep your car in good condition. You do that by regularly changing (interior) filters as well as brake fluid, coolant, and windscreen wiper fluid. Parts such as tyres, brakes, lights, wipers, and rubbers should also be inspected regularly.

Electric car batteries are made so that you can travel many hundreds of thousands of kilometres with them without much “degradation” (decrease in capacity). Replacement is therefore actually not necessary. Moreover, it is complex and expensive. For example, the battery of a Renault Zoe already costs about €8,000. For larger EVs, the price is easily double that. The Chinese car brand NIO has its own Power Swap Stations, where you can swap the battery of your NIO as an alternative to charging yourself.