As we near the middle of the year, we wanted to showcase some of the electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that we have been watching for some time. Not only do these vehicles offer comfort, they also come with a host of features that would benefit any fleet driver.
Tesla Model 3
Price
From £41,550
Main features of some variants
- 0-60 mph in 3.2s
- 310-mile range
- Dual Motor All Wheel Drive
- 160m forward-facing radar for object detection
- 12 Ultrasonic sensors, to detect nearby cars
- Rear, side and forward-facing cameras
- 15” centre touchscreen display
- 20” performance wheels
What is it like?
British buyers might have had to wait longer than their US counterparts, but the first reports of the Tesla Model 3 have been good so far. Roughly the same size as the BMW 3 Series, the Tesla 3 is the latest in the range from Elon Musk.
Compared with other electric vehicles on the market, the Model 3 handles very well. With larger, 20” alloy wheels and Michelin sport tyres, the Model 3 is able to take corners at speed, without feeling like you will lose control. One of the biggest draws is how much technology it comes with.
With ‘Autopilot’ self-steering and adaptive cruise control, it is an easy vehicle to drive over long distances, as long as you keep an eye on the range. The Model 3 can even perform lane changes. The driver just needs to indicate and the cameras give the all clear, before the vehicle steers. The full self-driving capability is an option on all 3 variants.
Kia Niro EV
2019 Niro EV
Price
From £32,995
Main features
- 0-60 mph in 7.8s
- 282-mile range
- Climate control and heated steering wheel
- Rear parking sensors and camera
- Rear, side and forward-facing cameras
- 8” infotainment system, including Sat-Nav
- 7” digital gauge cluster
- 17” allow wheels
What is it like?
Reports are in, and they are looking positive. According to those that have driven the Niro, it is apparently actually quite fast. They’ve said that once the vehicle is on the move, it has a speed that is comparable to the Ford Fiesta ST.
On the inside, it is clear to see that they have thought about driver comfort and visibility. With decent-sized side and rear windows, you will not have a problem changing lane or parking. Combine this visibility with the front and rear parking sensors, and the reversing camera, and it is a comfortable ride.
Priced slighter higher than the Nissan Leaf and the VW e-Golf, the Niro is however, a lot more affordable than the Jaguar I-Pace and the Tesla Model S. In terms of charging, 0-80% takes around 75 minutes, which is ideal if you are using this vehicle during your working day.
Range Rover Sport P400e
Price
From £72,000
Main features
- 0-60 mph in 6.3s
- 0-litre turbo petrol engine
- Two 10” touchscreens with ‘InControl Touch Pro Duo’ infotainment system
- Cabin preconditioning
- Intelligent routing SatNav
- Automatic transmission, with four-wheel drive
What is it like?
With a 33.5-inch wading capability and elevated air-spring suspension, you may be mistaken for thinking that the Range Rover Sport P400e is just another off-roading vehicle from this British manufacturer.
But you would be wrong. With a total system output of 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, the P400e is arguably more powerful than the diesel and V-6-powered Sport models. The system combined electric and internal combustion to meet the obvious load demands, and if you enter a destination on the intelligent routing SatNav system, and the vehicle comes into its own.
The electronic neural network takes into consideration traffic conditions, the gradient of the route and whether the driver is taking the vehicle into an urban or rural location. Once all these factors have been determined, the P400e delivers the most efficient power combinations.
Mercedes E 300 e
Price
From £35,000
Main features
- 0-60 mph in 5.7s
- Blindspot monitoring and parking assistance
- 18” alloy wheels
- Heated front seats
- 0-litre turbo petrol engine
- Nine-speed semi-automatic, rear-wheel drive
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 3” high-resolution touchscreen displays
What is it like?
Mercedes promises better performance and lower emissions with the E300e when compared to the E 350 e. Similar to the previous model, the E 300 e combines a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor, which makes it a good vehicle for urban driving.
With four hybrid modes to choose from, the intelligent brake regeneration system considers traffic levels, corners and hills to decide when and how to charge the battery. When charging at home or in the workplace, it takes approximately two hours to charge from 10 to 100%.
With an impressive dual-screen infotainment system and instrument set up, the interior has an attractive design and comfortable seats, which are sure to please both the driver and passengers.
Mercedes EQC
Price
From £65,640
Main features
- 0-60 mph in 5.1s
- 215-mile real range
- Active parking assistance with reversing camera
- 19” alloy wheels
- The latest MBUX infotainment system
- Heated front seats
- Customisable ambient lighting
- Four-wheel drive system
- Five different driving modes
What is it like?
When you first look at the EQC, you may just see a similar style to the Mercedes GLC, and you would not be wrong. However, what Mercedes have instead focused on is providing an electric vehicle that gives optimum silence, efficiency and safety.
With front and rear motors of 204bhp each, you can set the EQC’s regenerative braking at several levels. One of the best options is the ‘auto’ setting. This uses the in-built cameras, sensors and navigation data to create a virtual picture of what the road holds ahead. The dashboard shows symbols that encourage the driver to lift their foot from the accelerator early and cruise, and regenerative technology only cuts in when it is needed.
In summary, these five vehicles are ones that we will be keeping our eyes on in the future. If you would like to test drive one of these vehicles, or to find out how our team of specialists are able to help you improve your green fleet credentials, speak to us today on 01844 852252 or email us here.
