Industry criticises electric car battery leasing plans

Motoring industry professionals have criticised one manufacturer’s plans to lease out batteries for its electric vehicle (EV) range rather than fit them with a battery.

According to What Car?, Renault’s idea to sell its models and rent out batteries separately will have a negative effect on car leasing companies.

As businesses look to green their fleet, many may turn to leasing out vehicles on demand, but the news provider claims that car residual firms are refusing to rate retained values because the cars are not sold with their batteries.

Other companies are finding that they are getting low estimations on retained value because of this.

However, Thierry Koskas, head of Renault’s EV programme, told What Car? that it is a good business model.

“Our way means you don’t need to care about the battery life degrading.

“In France our system has been much acclaimed – our retained value estimations are among the best in the class. We must prove that is viable elsewhere.”

The manufacturer is releasing five EVs over the next 18 months, including the Zoe supermini and Kangoo van.

Posted by Emily Thomas

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For more information please see: What Car?


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