Three electric cars

Electric Vehicle Hire

We are rapidly increasing the number of EVs in our fleet to give you the best choice of electric vehicles to suit your needs. Click on the link below to see where EVs are available near you.

Find an EV branch

Benefits of Hiring Electric Vehicles

Easier Driving

The latest generation of electric vehicles (EVs) have more range, power and smart features for getting around.

Lower Running Costs

EV charging is less expensive than petrol or diesel, you won't have to pay congestion or ULEZ charges and you'll have access to free parking in some areas.

Cleaner Air

Electric vehicles take a lighter toll on the environment by reducing emissions and therefore air pollution.

Our Electric Vehicle Fleet

From small zippy cars, perfect for city breaks to spacious SUVs and luxury cars for work or leisure, we have the electric vehicle for you.

Optimising Your Electric Hire Car's Range

Wondering about how to drive to maximise your electric vehicle's battery life? EV range is partially down to how you drive so it’s worth knowing how to get the most out of your charge.

  • Watch your speed ­– Just like with a conventional engine, travelling at lower speeds puts less drain on your battery.
  • Use regenerative braking – Taking advantage of regenerative settings in your EV’s setup will channel wasted energy into power.
  • Go easy with the climate control – Air conditioning and heating both drain battery so try to keep your use to a minimum while driving a EV hire.
  • Use cruise control - Unless you are in heavy traffic, making regular turns, or experiencing adverse weather conditions, using cruise control can help conserve energy and increase driving range.

There are now more EV charging points in the UK than petrol stations 

(EDF energy, 2020)

EV Charger Types

Slow/standard: Charging at home using a three-pin plug or home charging unit. Takes 6-12 hours to charge an EV.

Fast (7kW-22kW): Found at workplaces and car parks. A full charge in 2-4 hours.

Rapid (25kW-99kW):  Found at large commercial sites, such as motorway service stations. An 80% charge in about 1 to 1.5 hours.

EV Charging Connector Types

Type 2 AC charger: For fast charging. A round 7-pin plug with one flat edge.

Combined Charging System (CCS): For rapid charging. Two DC pins below the Type 2 AC connector.

CHAdeMO:  For rapid charging only, mainly in cars from Japanese automobile manufacturers. A round four-pin plug.

EV FAQs

Yes, your EV will be 80% charged which is the manufacturer’s maximum recommended charge to preserve battery life.

Zapmap have a map showing all the different charging points across the country. You can even plot a trip and it will show you where you can recharge along the way. You can download their app and use them on the go.

Google maps will also show you your nearest charging point if you search ‘EV charging points’.

Ideally you should recharge it to 80%. If this isn’t possible, please return it with no less than 10% charge, you will be billed for the cost of charging it back to 80%.

No, the opposite is true as there are no gears to change so it is more like driving an automatic. Braking and acceleration are both more responsive so hills and bends are easier to navigate in an EV.

This depends on the model of EV you are driving, how you drive it and the conditions you are driving in.

Read our tips for extending battery life.

Electric cars are fully battery powered while hybrid vehicles combine power from a battery and a backup conventional engine. 

Where to Hire an Electric Vehicle

The North

Manchester East | Warrington | Leeds City Centre

West Midlands

Aston

EV's Explained

Electric Vehicle (EV):

A catch-all term for vehicles with an electric battery. The term is often used to refer to “pure electric” vehicles.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):

Vehicles that run solely on electric power via an on-board battery. They require regular charging on mains electricity.

Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV):

A car that has official tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions of less than 75g/km which makes it eligible for grants and benefits from the UK government.

Hybrid Car:

A term for all types of electric vehicles with both a fuel-based engine and an electric motor. 

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):

A car with both an ICE and an on-board electric battery. This allows for electric-powered driving for short distances or an extended range from a combination of the petrol engine and electric motor.

Full Hybrid or “Self-Charging” Hybrid:

EVs that run mostly on fossil fuel. They house a small battery which is charged through regenerative braking. However, the electric motor can only power the car for short periods and at low speeds.

ICE:

Any vehicle with a traditional, internal combustion engine.

Kilowatt hour (kWh):

The measurement unit for EV batteries’ energy capacity. It represents the battery’s ability to deliver power (kilowatts) over a period of time (hours).

Range-Extended EV (REx):

A type of plug-in electric vehicle that has a small petrol or diesel motor and a small fuel-based power unit which helps charge its battery.

Range per hour (RPH):

The miles of range your EV can travel from charging it for one hour.

Regenerative braking:

A type of braking system that converts a vehicle’s kinetic energy from braking into electricity to recharge its battery.

Real world range:

This is the more likely range of an EV, driven in the 'real world' as opposed to the manufacturer's WLTP range figures, which are calculated from testing in the laboratory.