DriveElectric Alternatives: Best EV Salary Sacrifice Schemes in the UK (2026)
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If you're researching DriveElectric as a potential salary sacrifice provider, this guide covers the questions that matter most before you commit. It examines how DriveElectric's scheme is structured, what its employer protection terms actually mean in practice, and how its pricing model compares to broker-based alternatives.
We also consider how a range of other established providers sit in the market, so you can assess the full landscape rather than a single option. Where The Electric Car Scheme offers a stronger proposition on a specific criterion, that's set out directly and with the evidence behind it. The goal is to give HR Directors, Fleet Managers, and Finance Directors the information they need to make a well-grounded decision, not to make it for them.
What Is DriveElectric, and Does It Offer Salary Sacrifice?
DriveElectric is a UK electric vehicle leasing company that has focused exclusively on EVs since 2008, operating as a trading name of Fleetdrive Management Limited. Its services span personal electric car leasing, business contract hire, fleet management, short-term hire, van leasing, and an EV salary sacrifice scheme for employers. Salary sacrifice is one product within a broader service portfolio rather than the company's sole or primary offering.
DriveElectric's salary sacrifice scheme is structured across three package tiers: Core, Plus, and Complete. Each tier includes servicing, maintenance, tyres, breakdown, and Road Fund Licence as standard, with insurance and Early Termination Protection included at the higher tiers.
The scheme operates on a direct leasing model, meaning DriveElectric owns and supplies the vehicles itself rather than sourcing from a panel of funders. This gives it control over servicing and delivery but introduces meaningful differences in pricing flexibility and vehicle range compared to broker-based providers.
Key Takeaways
DriveElectric offers salary sacrifice as one service within a wider leasing portfolio
It operates a direct leasing model, not a multi-funder broker model
Three package tiers available: Core, Plus, and Complete
Early Termination Protection is included only in the Complete package
Does DriveElectric Protect Employers From Day One?
This is the question that matters most for any HR or Finance Director evaluating an electric car scheme. Early termination is one of the most common financial risks associated with salary sacrifice, and the timing of protection has a direct bearing on employer liability.
How DriveElectric Handles Early Termination
DriveElectric's Early Termination Protection reduces or removes early termination charges in many common scenarios, but only after the first three months of the lease. This means that for the first 12 weeks of every employee's agreement, the employer carries full financial exposure if that employee resigns, is made redundant, or experiences a change in circumstances.
The full list of covered scenarios and any applicable excess terms is not publicly detailed on DriveElectric's website; employers evaluating this scheme should request written confirmation of the full terms before committing.
The Early Termination Protection is available only as part of the Complete package and is not included as standard.
What Is The Electric Car Scheme’s Early Termination Policy?
Complete Employer Protection is included as standard with The Electric Car Scheme, at no additional cost, and activates from Day 1 of every lease.
There's no exclusion period, no excess to pay, and no cap on the number of vehicles covered. The confirmed scenarios covered from Day 1 include redundancy, dismissal, long-term sickness, loss of licence on medical grounds, and death. Resignation is covered after an initial three-month period, consistent with standard industry practice.
For businesses with any degree of staff movement, the difference between Day 1 coverage and a three-month waiting period is a material financial consideration, not a minor distinction.
Key Takeaways
DriveElectric's protection begins after three months and is only in the Complete package
Full scenario coverage and excess terms are not publicly detailed; request written confirmation
The Electric Car Scheme's Complete Employer Protection is included as standard from Day 1
No excess, no cap, no exclusion period with The Electric Car Scheme
Will Employees Save More Than with a Personal Lease?
Savings through salary sacrifice depend on three variables: t
The Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate applied to the vehicle
The employee's income tax band
The gross lease cost before the sacrifice
With electric vehicles attracting a BiK rate of 4% for 2026/27 compared to up to 37% for petrol and diesel cars, the tax advantage is substantial regardless of which provider is used. The difference between providers comes down to the gross lease cost they can secure before those savings are applied.
What DriveElectric Quotes
DriveElectric advertises employee savings of up to 40% through its salary sacrifice offering. The scheme operates on a direct leasing model, meaning pricing is determined by DriveElectric's own supply chain rather than benchmarked competitively across a panel of funders. Pricing and service fee structures are not publicly disclosed, which makes direct like-for-like comparison harder to verify without requesting a quote.
What The Electric Car Scheme Delivers
Through The Electric Car Scheme, employees typically save 20–50% on any brand-new electric car, with pricing benchmarked across multiple leasing funders. For higher-rate taxpayers, savings at the upper end of that range are common. Employees can use The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice calculator to model figures based on their own salary and preferred car.
Employers also benefit: salary sacrifice generates a 15% National Insurance saving on the value of salary sacrificed, which can be retained or reinvested into the scheme.
Key Takeaways
BiK rate for electric vehicles is 4% for 2026/27, vs up to 37% for petrol/diesel
The Electric Car Scheme typically delivers 20–50% employee savings
DriveElectric quotes up to 40%, based on its direct leasing model
Employers save 15% National Insurance on sacrificed salary
Is Pricing Independently Verifiable Before You Commit?
Pricing transparency is worth examining closely when comparing any two salary sacrifice providers. The question isn't whether a headline savings figure sounds competitive; it's whether the underlying lease costs can be independently checked before a contract is signed.
DriveElectric's Pricing Model
DriveElectric operates as a direct lessor, meaning it controls its own vehicle supply and sets pricing accordingly. This model offers operational consistency but limits the price tension that a multi-funder broker creates by sourcing across competing lessors.
DriveElectric does not publicly disclose its service fees or pricing methodology, and only new electric vehicles are available through the scheme. This means employers and employees can't verify competitiveness without requesting a quote directly, and there's no used EV option for employees who want a lower monthly cost.
The Electric Car Scheme's Pricing Model
The Electric Car Scheme operates as a broker, aggregating funding from multiple UK leasing companies to provide competitive pricing across a wide vehicle range. This structure means pricing is benchmarked across the market for every vehicle, rather than determined by a single supply chain.
Both new and used electric cars are available, with used vehicles deliverable in approximately 14 days and carrying the same all-inclusive package as new cars. For employees who want access to salary sacrifice but can't stretch to new-car pricing, the used EV option significantly widens the scheme's accessibility across different salary bands.
Key Takeaways
DriveElectric's direct leasing model limits pricing flexibility and transparency
No used EV option is available through DriveElectric
The Electric Car Scheme's broker model benchmarks pricing across multiple funders
Used EVs are available through The Electric Car Scheme with 14-day delivery
Can Employees Charge Without a Separate Account or App?
Charging is a practical day-to-day concern for every EV driver, and it's an area where salary sacrifice providers differ significantly. The question for employers is whether the scheme covers the full cost of EV ownership or just the vehicle itself.
DriveElectric's Charging Provision
DriveElectric offers charging solutions as part of its broader business services, including workplace charging infrastructure and energy management tools for fleet operators. Home charger installation can be included in employee packages depending on the tier selected. There's no integrated charging salary sacrifice product, meaning the ongoing cost of charging remains a post-tax expense for employees.
The Charge Scheme
The Charge Scheme was developed by The Electric Car Scheme and allows employees to salary sacrifice the cost of their EV charging, whether at home, at work, or at public charge points. Employees save 20–50% on all charging costs, with a dedicated app and a single public charging card covering the full network.
The Charge Scheme is available to employees whose employer has set up the scheme. For employees without a home charger, or those who rely heavily on public charging, The Charge Scheme meaningfully reduces the total cost of EV ownership rather than just the monthly lease payment.
Key Takeaways
DriveElectric offers home charger installation but no charging salary sacrifice product
The Charge Scheme was developed by The Electric Car Scheme and salary sacrifices EV charging costs
Employees save 20–50% on home, workplace, and public charging via The Charge Scheme
OVO Energy partnership provides 6,000 free miles and charging at approximately 7p per kWh
How Does DriveElectric Compare At A Glance?
| Feature | The Electric Car Scheme | DriveElectric |
|---|---|---|
| Employee savings | 20–50% | Up to 40% |
| Employer protection | Day 1, all scenarios, no exclusions, included as standard | After 3 months, Complete package only |
| Used car availability | Yes — UK's largest selection, ~14-day delivery | Yes — available |
| EV charging solution | The Charge Scheme — 20–50% saving via salary sacrifice on all charging | Home charger installation, fleet energy tools |
| Funder access | Multiple funders | Panel of funders |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8/5 | Not independently verified at time of writing |
| B Corp certified | Yes (104.3) | No |
| BiK rate (2026/27) | 4% | 4% |
| Set-up cost to employer | None | None |
How Do Other EV Salary Sacrifice Providers Compare?
The table below summarises how the most established alternatives to DriveElectric compare across the criteria that matter most to employers. All four operate salary sacrifice schemes rather than standard leasing arrangements, so they're comparable on structure if not always on detail.
| Provider | Employer protection | Used EVs | Charging salary sacrifice | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Electric Car Scheme | Day 1, included as standard, no excess | Yes, 14-day delivery | Yes, The Charge Scheme | Multi-funder broker |
| Octopus EV | After 3 months for resignation/redundancy | Yes | No | Direct lessor |
| Loveelectric | Standard ETP from Day 1; Zero Risk Guarantee (Day 1, all scenarios) at additional cost | Yes | No | Broker |
| Tusker | After 3 months | Limited | No | Multi-funder broker |
| Select Car Leasing | Protection available at additional cost | Yes | No | Multi-funder broker |
The most significant variable across this group is employer protection timing. Only The Electric Car Scheme includes comprehensive Day 1 protection as standard with no excess and no additional cost. Loveelectric offers Day 1 coverage through its Zero Risk Guarantee, but this is charged at an additional fee per employee per month rather than included in the base scheme. Octopus EV and Tusker both apply a three-month waiting period for the most common early termination scenarios, meaning employers carry financial exposure during the period when staff movement is arguably most likely.
On vehicle access, The Electric Car Scheme and Select Car Leasing both offer used EVs alongside new vehicles, making the scheme accessible to a wider range of employees across salary bands. Octopus EV and Loveelectric also offer used vehicles. Tusker's used car offering is more limited by comparison.
For a full provider breakdown, the salary sacrifice scheme comparison covers these providers in more detail.
Key Takeaways
Only The Electric Car Scheme includes Day 1 protection as standard with no additional cost
Loveelectric's Day 1 Zero Risk Guarantee carries an additional monthly charge per employee
Octopus EV and Tusker both apply a three-month protection waiting period
Used EV access varies significantly across providers
Why Do UK Employers Choose The Electric Car Scheme?
The Electric Car Scheme was built specifically to deliver electric car salary sacrifice as a complete employer benefit, not as an add-on to a broader fleet or leasing business. That focus is reflected in the depth of the product across protection, pricing, vehicle access, and charging.
The reasons UK employers choose The Electric Car Scheme over other providers include:
Complete Employer Protection from Day 1
No exclusion periods, no excess, no cap on vehicles covered. Redundancy, dismissal, long-term sickness, loss of licence, and death are all covered immediately. Resignation is covered after the standard three-month period.
The Charge Scheme
Developed by The Electric Car Scheme, The Charge Scheme lets employees salary sacrifice the cost of EV charging, saving 20–50% regardless of where they charge. Particularly valuable for employees without a home charging setup.
Competitive Pricing Across New and Used Vehicles
Multi-funder broker access means pricing is benchmarked across the market for every vehicle. The used EV range is the largest available through salary sacrifice in the UK, with delivery typically within 14 days.
No Cost to Employers
Employer National Insurance savings generated through salary sacrifice mean the scheme is cost-neutral to run. The Electric Car Scheme handles HR communications, payroll reporting, and ongoing support, with a dedicated Customer Success Manager assigned to every employer.
Independent Verification
A 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating, B Corp certification with a score of 104.3, and recognition as the UK's Best Salary Sacrifice Provider for 2025 by Car Sloth provide a level of independent assurance that's meaningful for procurement and risk teams.
Key Takeaways
Day 1 Complete Employer Protection included as standard, no excess, no cap
The Charge Scheme lets employees salary sacrifice all EV charging costs
Largest used EV selection in the UK, available through salary sacrifice
Cost-neutral to employers; NI savings offset running costs
How to Get Started with The Electric Car Scheme
Getting started takes a single conversation. Employers can book a demo with a Salary Sacrifice Specialist who'll walk through how the scheme works, confirm the employer protection terms, and help configure the right setup for your workforce. There's no cost to set up, no obligation to commit a minimum number of vehicles, and no long implementation timeline.
Employees can get an instant quote using the salary sacrifice calculator, entering their salary, preferred lease term, and mileage to see exactly how much they could save on any electric car. With the BiK rate for electric vehicles at 4% for 2026/27 and rising to 5% in 2027/28, 7% in 2028/29, and 9% in 2029/30, there's a clear financial case for employees to act during the current tax year rather than waiting.
Key Takeaways
No set-up cost, no minimum fleet size, no long implementation process
Use the salary sacrifice calculator to model employee savings instantly
BiK rate rises from 4% (2026/27) to 5% (2027/28) and 7% (2028/29)
Book a demo to discuss Complete Employer Protection terms in detail
Frequently Asked Questions About DriveElectric
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Yes, DriveElectric offers an EV salary sacrifice scheme as part of its broader business services portfolio. The scheme sits alongside personal leasing, business contract hire, fleet management, and van leasing.
It's structured across three tiers, with Early Termination Protection available only in the Complete package and only after the first three months of the lease.
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The main differences are in employer protection, pricing model, and charging provision.
The Electric Car Scheme's Complete Employer Protection is included as standard from Day 1 with no excess; DriveElectric's protection begins after three months and is limited to the Complete package. The Electric Car Scheme operates as a multi-funder broker, giving it greater pricing flexibility and access to used EVs, which DriveElectric doesn't currently offer.
The Electric Car Scheme also developed The Charge Scheme, which lets employees salary sacrifice their EV charging costs alongside their vehicle.
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The Benefit-in-Kind rate for zero-emission electric vehicles is 4% for the 2026/27 tax year. This compares to a maximum of 37% for high-emission petrol and diesel vehicles. The rate rises to 5% in 2027/28 and 7% in 2028/29, making the current period particularly favourable for salary sacrifice uptake.
Employees and employers who join now lock in leases at the lowest available BiK rate before those increases apply.
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Yes, through The Electric Car Scheme. The Electric Car Scheme offers the UK's largest selection of used electric cars available through salary sacrifice, sourced from multiple trusted leasing companies. Delivery is typically within 14 days, and used vehicles come with the same all-inclusive package as new cars: maintenance, breakdown cover, and Complete Employer Protection from Day 1.
DriveElectric does not currently offer used EVs through its salary sacrifice scheme.
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Salary sacrifice reduces gross income, which some lenders factor into affordability calculations. The impact varies by lender and by the size of the sacrifice relative to total salary.
For most employees, the effect is manageable, but it's worth understanding the implications before applying for a mortgage.
Our dedicated guide covers salary sacrifice and mortgage applications in full.
Is DriveElectric The Right Choice For Your Organisation?
DriveElectric is an established name in UK electric vehicle leasing with a genuine salary sacrifice offering. For employers evaluating it as a standalone option, the key questions this article addresses each point in the same direction: protection starts three months in rather than from Day 1, pricing isn't independently verifiable before you commit, used EVs aren't available through the scheme, and there's no charging salary sacrifice solution.
Each of these gaps has a practical consequence for employers and employees. The Electric Car Scheme addresses all four as core features of the product, not optional add-ons. With the 2026/27 BiK rate at 4% and rising annually from 2027/28 onwards, the financial case for getting the right scheme in place now is stronger than at any point in recent years.
Ready to see how The Electric Car Scheme compares for your organisation? Book a demo with a Salary Sacrifice Specialist, or use the salary sacrifice calculator to explore employee savings across your workforce today.
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Last updated: 08/04/2026
Our lease pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
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