New Research Reveals Lack of Awareness Surrounding Leasing Electric Vehicles
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, a new YouGov research study* uncovered that more than one-fifth (22%) of drivers who do not own an electric vehicle (EV) are unaware of the option to lease one instead of buying.
The findings suggest that many drivers may be missing out on one of the most cost-effective ways to own an EV, especially during a time when running costs are a major concern.
According to the research, lack of awareness is most prevalent among drivers aged 35 and above, as well as among women. A surprising 59% of respondents who were not aware of EV leasing were female, compared to only 40% of male respondents.
Even among those who are aware of the option to lease an EV, there is a common misconception that the upfront cost would be similar to buying. Approximately 28% of respondents assumed this, while only 34% of those who are aware of EV leasing know that the upfront cost could be lower than buying.
Kelly Marshall, Managing Director of car and van leasing specialist Gateway2Lease, commissioned the YouGov research, which surveyed over 2,000 participants. Marshall states that leasing an electric car through a personal contract hire (PCH) agreement can be significantly cheaper per month than a finance deal.
“Unlike buying an EV, there’s no large upfront cost with leasing. Instead, payments are spread throughout the lease term, which can help consumers budget for a new car. Additionally, there’s no need to worry about depreciation as the leasing company takes on the risk,” explains Marshall.
Leasing an EV can be a highly affordable option for drivers looking to switch from a petrol or diesel vehicle to an electric one, especially in light of the proposed ban on the sale of new conventional diesel and petrol cars by the government in 2030.
Furthermore, employees who have access to a salary sacrifice scheme through their employer can save even more on income tax and national insurance, as the vehicle lease cost is deducted from their salary before tax is taken.
“We’ve seen a 48% increase in employees choosing an electric vehicle through salary sacrifice compared to last year. As awareness has grown, more drivers have realized they can access a brand-new EV for considerably less than they expected, thanks to the available tax advantages,” says Marshall.
In addition, the UK government’s Electric Car Grant, which offers discounts of either £3,750 or £1,500 on over 60 new EVs, can lead to lower lease rentals. EV drivers also benefit from exemption from the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Clean Air Zones (CAZs) in other major cities.
Charging an EV at home overnight on a dedicated EV tariff also brings significant savings compared to the cost of filling a petrol or diesel car at the pumps.
“Our research with YouGov has also shown that fuel prices have been a driving force for consumers considering switching to an EV,” says Marshall. “This number could be even higher once people understand they can lease an EV, and we’re working hard to raise awareness about the benefits of leasing.”
Case Study: “I got the best deal by leasing an EV”
Laurina Moody, a 63-year-old author and wedding celebrant from Faversham in Kent, is making significant savings after taking out a personal lease on an electric car for the first time.
She estimates that her new Suzuki e-Vitara, which she is leasing through broker Gateway2Lease, costs her a third of the price to run compared to her previous car, a petrol Mazda CX-3.
“There are lots of benefits from leasing, particularly leasing an electric car,” says Laurina. “I don’t have to think beyond the length of the lease or worry about depreciation or the life of the battery.”
Laurina had a company car on a lease while she worked in the community for the NHS, but she assumed that outside of employment, “it wouldn’t be financially sensible to lease,” and opted to buy a car after she retired.
However, when she decided her next car would be an electric one, a friend who works for a major car manufacturer advised her to look into personal leasing.
“I never liked the idea of not actually owning a car, even though I understood that it isn’t really an investment because a new car depreciates so much,” Laurina says. “I needed to review my thinking.”
She requested a quote from Gateway2Lease after researching the Suzuki e-Vitara online earlier this year.
“Gateway2Lease got back to me very shortly afterward, and everything was done remotely, with no face-to-face contact,” she says. “Some people may be nervous about that, but I found it to be a very convenient and smooth process, and it seemed a lot quicker. There were phone calls and lots of emails, and everyone I communicated with at Gateway2Le
