High fuel prices + salary sacrifice = I’ve made the switch to electric

"You may recall my EV road test last year when I wasn’t convinced that making the switch was financially viable. I had major concerns about high public charging costs as well as finding an EV within my budget. 

"Fast forward a few months, and I not only decided to go electric, but I’ve had my new ID7 Tourer for over a month now. Has that decision stacked up?"

Why I made the switch

"The ‘driving’ factor for me was the price of fuel. I have a long commute - a 400 mile round trip - which pushed me to start doing some serious sums on taking on an EV lease.

"Many businesses now offer salary sacrifice schemes and this, combined with reduced company car tax, makes the maths on EVs start to add up."

What I like about the VW ID7

• Premium build quality

• Massive interior and boot space

• Exceptional technology & infotainment

• Comfortable seats (they’ve even got a massage setting!)

• Simple and intuitive controls

• Smooth ride, quiet, and handles well for its weight.

"Driving the ID7 Tourer truly is a joy to drive. For long journeys, it’s noticeably less tiring to drive than traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.

"The combination of adaptive cruise control and the augmented reality head-up display, makes journeys feel quicker and more comfortable.

"The car has loads of tech but the simple and clean interior doesn’t make this tech seem overwhelming or let it get in the way."

Going the distance

"The most important criteria I needed in an EV was sufficient range. For my long commute, I had to have a vehicle that I wouldn’t have to stop and charge – especially when some service station chargers cost >90 p/kWh.

"The ID7 claims 370-mile range, but we all know this is highly unlikely to be achievable in the real world. Realistically it’s closer to 320 miles."

Is a home charger essential?

"If you’ve looked into EVs, you might know that to optimise long-term battery health you should keep charging maximum to 80%. So I try to get 200 miles out of 80%, which is generally possible depending on time of year etc.

"I haven’t invested the ~£1,000 in a 7 kW home charger as the 2 kW charger I can plug into the mains can get me back to 80% charge in roughly 36 hours, which works for me at the moment."

Does my investment stack up?

"The short answer is yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have made the switch. And thankfully, my maths seems to have been accurate so far!

"My biggest saving comes from the salary sacrifice element which brings the effective monthly lease cost down significantly. After this, the savings come from insurance, maintenance and fuel.

"Would I recommend making the switch to an EV? It depends on your circumstances, but even if you were only going to save a few pounds, the car itself is such a joy to drive that I would say a resounding yes!"

AF Members benefit from an exciting 24.5% of the VW ID7. The UK line-up for the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer primarily consists of three main trim levels/variants: Pro Match Plus (starting from around £52,225 exc. AF discount), Pro S Match Plus (£55,710 exc.), and the performance-focused GTX Plus 4MOTION (£60,400 exc. AF discount).

These variants differ in battery size, power output, electric range, and drivetrain. All versions come generously equipped, typically including a 15-inch infotainment display, augmented reality head-up display, heated/massage front seats, and an energy-efficient heat pump.

The GTX Plus adds sportier exterior styling, a more dynamic chassis setup, and upgraded interior styling.

Did you know that you can recharge your EV using the AF EV charging card - giving you the convenience of consolidated billing through your AF account.

If you're looking to add the VW ID.7 (or another vehicle) to your fleet, speak to your AF Vehicles team.