The Electric Car Scheme vs
DriveElectric
Compare EV Salary Sacrifice Schemes from The Electric Car Scheme and DriveElectric
Choosing a salary sacrifice or EV benefit route is a strategic decision. Pricing, vehicle availability, risk protection and operational simplicity all determine whether the scheme is accessible, scalable and cost-neutral for your workforce.
At a Glance: Key Differences Between The Electric Car Scheme and DriveElectric
Vehicle choice: The Electric Car Scheme aggregates across the whole UK market including hundreds of used EVs; DriveElectric's sourcing is narrower and more new-EV centric.
Pricing: The Electric Car Scheme runs live multi-funder quotes on every order; DriveElectric's pricing is less dynamic and more tied to its own stock.
Risk protection: The Electric Car Scheme offers Complete Employer Protection from day 1 with no caps or excess; DriveElectric applies conditional protection with exclusions.
Charging benefit: The Electric Car Scheme salary-sacrifices home, workplace and public charging end-to-end; DriveElectric's charging is largely home-only.
Technology and admin: The Electric Car Scheme offers modern integrations, SSO and a dedicated CSM per employer; DriveElectric's tooling is more traditional.
The Strongest Prices for Employee Electric Cars
The Electric Car Scheme's multi-funder approach regularly beats DriveElectric on both new EVs and used stock — with hundreds of used EVs in the panel at 30–40% cheaper than new equivalents.
Vehicle Selection Comparison by Provider
The Electric Car Scheme
Electric and plug-in hybrids below 75g CO2/km
Hundreds of used EVs available at any time
Wide selection across multiple leasing partners, including specialist stock
DriveElectric
New EV-led inventory, with some PHEV availability
Smaller used-EV pool; pricing less competitive on used stock
Fewer affordable options for basic-rate taxpayers
For larger organisations with a high proportion of employees in the basic-rate tax band, broader access to used and plug-in hybrid vehicles can make the scheme accessible to a significantly wider share of the workforce.
Risk and Early Termination Protection Comparison
92% of senior HR professionals believe salary sacrifice carries risk if an employee leaves while they still have a car.
The Electric Car Scheme's Complete Employer Protection
Included as standard from day 1
Covers resignation (3 months+), redundancy, dismissal, parental leave, long-term sickness, loss of licence and death
No excess fees, caps, or annual limits
Covers scenarios where the employee doesn't pay termination fees or damage costs
How does DriveElectric’s early termination protection compare?
Exclusion periods typically apply (often 3 months)
Monthly-rental excess and annual caps can be applied
Gaps in cover where the employee refuses to pay early-termination fees or damages
Exposure increases with workforce size and turnover
| Event | The Electric Car Scheme | DriveElectric |
|---|---|---|
| Resignation | Covered from 3 months, no excess or cap | Typically 3-month exclusion; excess may apply |
| Redundancy | Covered from day 1, no excess or cap | Exclusion period and annual cap common |
| Dismissal | Covered, no excess or cap | Often partial or excluded |
| Parental leave | Covered, no excess or cap | Often excluded or time-limited |
| Long-term sickness | Covered, no excess or cap | Often time-limited |
| Loss of licence | Covered | Varies by provider |
| Death | Covered | Covered |
| Employee non-payment | Covered — scheme absorbs loss | Often not covered |
Service, Technology and Portals Comparison
The Electric Car Scheme
Modern Employer Portal: approvals, payroll reporting, live order tracking, sustainability reporting
Employee Portal: browsing, quotes, insurance, charging, orders, lease management
API/SFTP/SSO integrations with benefits platforms and payroll providers
Dedicated Customer Success Manager per employer
Fleet Evolution
Provides an online portal
Fewer employer-side integrations or self-serve admin features
Launch and ongoing support model less structured around enterprise customers
Our technology is designed to minimise admin, remove manual uploads and double entry, and provide real-time visibility of uptake, savings and carbon impact.
Charging: EV Charging Salary Sacrifice Comparison
For many employees, charging is the largest ongoing cost of EV ownership. The Electric Car Scheme treats charging as part of the benefit rather than an afterthought.
The Electric Car Scheme
Salary-sacrifice home, workplace and public charging
20–50% savings on charging costs over the lease
Home charge-point install included in salary-sacrifice
Preferred tariffs (e.g. OVO Charge Anytime with free miles)
Up to £4,405 of charging value per employee across a typical lease
DriveElectric
Home charging install often available as a bolt-on
Public and workplace charging not salary-sacrificed
Tariff bundling narrower than The Electric Car Scheme's
Cost to Run and Employer NI Sharing
Both schemes can operate at no net cost to the employer. The Electric Car Scheme gives employers explicit control over how employer NI savings are used — retain in full, reinvest into pricing, or split.
Many employers choose to share a large proportion of their employer National Insurance savings with employees to support affordability and maximise participation, while retaining a portion to fund wider people and climate initiatives.
Why Choose The Electric Car Scheme Over DriveElectric?
Broader vehicle availability across new and used EVs and hybrids
Market-based pricing across multiple funders
Day-one, unconditional employer protection
Full salary-sacrifice charging across home, workplace and public
Modern tech stack and dedicated CSM per employer
Flexible employer NI treatment to drive take-up
If you'd like to see how The Electric Car Scheme compares with DriveElectric for your workforce, we can build you a tailored side-by-side based on your company's demographics and vehicle mix. Book a call with our Salary Sacrifice Specialists here.
Be the Hero and Make Net Zero the Obvious Choice for your Team
Reward your employees, attract the best talent and drive your sustainability goals - all with one simple, cost-free benefit: The Electric Car Scheme.