The RAC has launched a new consumer leasing service to make the switch to electric vehicles more affordable.

The RAC’s new leasing service enable drivers to switch to an electric car from as little as £227.99 a month

It’s aimed at the eight in 10 (78%) drivers who think EVs are too expensive to buy and will enable them to switch to an electric car from as little as £227.99 a month.

Developed in partnership with Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, the solution will offer a wide range of the most popular EV models currently available in the market.

According to the RAC, its EV deals are not only extremely competitive compared to other forms of finance on EVs, but can also work out cheaper than popular petrol models when factoring in the savings on fuel over a typical three-year lease period.

Drivers using the new RAC leasing site can also select a service and maintenance plan to enable them to budget ahead for this.

The top deals featured are also based on in-stock vehicles so customers can have their new car delivered in just a few weeks, avoiding the current long lead times due to supply chain issues and the semiconductor shortage.

All RAC leasing deals come with breakdown cover as standard – giving drivers the opportunity to benefit from the RAC’s van-fitted EV Boost emergency charging system should they run out of charge or find an out-of-order charge point. Rapidly rolling out across the RAC fleet, it’s basically the modern-day equivalent of an emergency fuel can for electric cars.

And, if something more serious goes wrong, RAC patrols have the equipment in their vans to be able to tow stricken EVs with all four wheels off the ground, which means customers don’t have to wait for a separate tow truck.

RAC director of EVs Sarah Winward-Kotecha said: “We know from RAC research there’s a growing desire among drivers to go electric but that the high upfront cost tends to be the biggest barrier to take-up, so we’ve teamed up with Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions to help people make the switch more easily and more affordably.”

She added: “We’d urge any driver thinking of changing their vehicle to think about all the costs they’ll pay for the period they have the car, as with an electric model there are substantial savings to be had.”

The RAC’s work on supporting customers switching to EVs also includes a comprehensive section on its website and a new EV Experts telephone helpline. Other solutions are said to be due very soon.

RAC EV leasing offers

Customers can choose both the length of their leasing agreement and choose how much the initial rental payment is – usually the equivalent of one, three, six or 12 months’ rental payments.

The prices below are based on a three-year agreement – 10,000 miles per year – with an initial payment of six months’ rental followed by 35 monthly payments.