How does business leasing for electric vehicles work?
Unlike traditional purchasing, leasing is based on a simple principle. You use a vehicle without owning it, in exchange for a monthly rental payment. But there are a few things you need to be aware of.
What is business leasing?
This is a form of financing that allows a company to have a new vehicle for a fixed period without having to purchase it. In practical terms, you sign a contract with a financial organisation that buys the vehicle and leases it back to you.
How does business leasing work?
When you sign the contract, you define a number of key parameters, such as :
- the rental period
- expected annual mileage
- the associated services you wish to include...
There are two types of leasing in France, each meeting specific needs:
- Long-term leasing
This is pure leasing. You use the vehicle for the duration of the contract, then return it to the financing organisation. This solution is ideal for companies that want to renew their fleet regularly.
- Leasing with a purchase option (LOA)
This option gives you the chance to purchase the vehicle at the end of the contract by paying a pre-defined residual value. This option is ideal for companies that want to test an electric vehicle before deciding whether or not to keep it.
What documents do I need to provide for a business lease?
At the very least, the documents needed to compile a professional leasing file are :
- A Kbis certificate less than three months old
- The last two certified balance sheets
- A copy of the signing executive's national identity card or passport
These documents are mainly used to check your company's solvency. They also prove that the company is not in receivership or compulsory liquidation.
A simplified underwriting process
This is one of the major advantages of business leasing. Once the application has been submitted, the finance study is usually completed in less than 72 hours. If the application is accepted, you will receive a detailed offer setting out the exact terms and conditions: monthly rental, duration, mileage and services included.
Beev has developed tailor-made support to make this process even easier. Our experts analyse your needs, select the electric vehicles best suited to your needs and take charge of putting together the entire financing package. You have a single point of contact who coordinates all these stages.
To find out more, see our complete guide to electric vehicle leasing.
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The financial advantages of business leasing for companies
Professional leasing of electric vehicles offers financial and tax advantages.
Cash flow control and predictability
Business leasing can have a positive impact on a company's cash flow. Unlike cash purchases, which require immediate investment, leasing gives you access to new vehicles without using up your capital. For an SME, this difference can have a decisive impact on the company's financial health.
Fixed monthly payments with no surprises
This is the second pillar of financial peace of mind. For the duration of the contract, you know exactly how much you're going to pay each month. And if you've opted for a contract that includes maintenance and assistance, you're protected against any unforeseen vehicle-related expenses, at no extra cost.
Off-balance sheet accounting
When you lease a vehicle, it is not recorded as an asset on your balance sheet because you do not own it. The monthly lease payments simply appear as operating expenses on your income statement.
The tax advantages of business leasing for companies
While internal combustion vehicles are subject to a depreciation ceiling of €18,300, electric vehicles benefit from an increased ceiling of €30,000. In practical terms, if you lease an electric vehicle with a list price of €45,000, you will be able to write off €30,000, compared with just €18,300 for an internal combustion vehicle. thermal vehicle equivalent.
Recovery of VAT on rental income
VAT can be reclaimed if you buy company cars or commercial vehicles, whether you opt for a leasing or hire purchase. We discuss this in more detail in our article on VAT recovery on a company car.
Exemption from Company Vehicle Tax (TVS)
This is the biggest tax advantage for electric vehicles. Since 2023, 100% electric vehicles have benefited from a total and permanent exemption from VAT. It's worth remembering that the TVS can amount to colossal sums per year and per vehicle for the highest-emitting combustion models. With a professionally leased electric vehicle, this tax is simply zero.
Reduced TCO
The TCO (or Total Cost of Ownership) is the key indicator for assessing the real cost of a vehicle over its entire useful life. Its reduction is due to lower maintenance costs for an electric vehicle. This is because an electric motor has fewer parts than a combustion engine.
Secondly, professional leasing contracts generally include full vehicle maintenance. This "all-inclusive" formula avoids unforeseen expenses and tedious administrative management.
Finally, energy costs are lower than for petrol and diesel. The price of electricity remains structurally lower than that of fossil fuels. To cover 100 km, an electric vehicle consumes on average the equivalent of 15 to 20 kWh of electricity, or between €2.50 and €4 when recharged during the day. off-peak hours compared with €9 and €11 for a diesel vehicle at current fuel prices.
Leasing vs buying: why business leasing wins out
The debate between leasing and buying company vehicles is not new. But it is taking on a particular dimension with the arrival of electric vehicles.
The limits of cash purchases
H3. The limits of cash purchases
Buying a new electric vehicle represents a major capital investment. A sum that suddenly leaves the accounts is no longer available for other potentially more profitable investments. This can put the brakes on commercial development, recruitment, innovation, digitisation, etc. In an economic climate where cash flow is crucial, this immobilisation can weaken the company.
What's more, maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the company. This management generates variable and unpredictable costs, as well as a heavy administrative burden.
The decisive advantages of professional leasing
Faced with these limitations, business leasing offers practical solutions that explain its growing popularity with companies.
Firstly, flexibility and easy fleet renewal are the advantages most appreciated by fleet managers. With leasing, you make a commitment for a set period and then simply return the vehicle. There are no concerns about resale or uncertainty about residual value. So you can take advantage of the technological developments in new electric vehicles without having to make a major investment.
What's more, the maintenance and assistance included radically transform the day-to-day management of your fleet. No more stress about unexpected breakdowns or surprise bills. When your leasing contract includes these services, everything is taken care of. This allows your teams to concentrate on their core business rather than managing vehicles.
Finally, adapting to regulatory changes is a strategic asset that is often underestimated. The mobility context is changing rapidly in France and Europe. The Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are multiplying and gradually tightening their access criteria. The Mobility Orientation Act (LOM Act) imposes quotas for clean vehicles in company fleets of more than 100 vehicles. It's a fact: European environmental standards are getting tougher every year.
Professional leasing of electric vehicles enables you to comply with these regulations. In this way, your fleet can keep pace with changes in legislation.
Professional leasing for electric vehicles, a strategic choice in the current context
Beyond the financial and operational arguments, electric vehicle leasing is part of a wider dynamic. It is becoming a strategic lever for companies that want to anticipate changes in mobility.
Favourable regulations
There is a trend towards greener mobility, with electric vehicles now accounting for 25.5% of all leased vehicle registrations (compared with 17.5% in 2024). This 8-point increase in one year can be explained by the convergence of several factors.
Firstly, the regulatory obligations we have just mentioned. Secondly, the technological maturity of electric vehicles. They now offer ranges that are compatible with most business uses. What's more, there has been a marked improvement in the public and private recharging network. Finally, as we saw earlier, there are significant economic and tax advantages to leasing electric cars.
CSR image and environmental commitment
The adoption of professional leasing for electric vehicles is a powerful signal in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). At a time when customers, partners and investors are paying increasing attention to a company's environmental commitments, the electrification of the car industry is a key priority. This is why the electrification of the vehicle fleet becomes a visible and tangible marker.
It enhances your employer brand by showing that you are investing in solutions for the future. More and more companies are incorporating environmental criteria into their supplier and service provider selection processes. Displaying an electric fleet means meeting these requirements and securing your position in tenders.
Beyond the image, electrifying your fleet can drastically reduce CO2 emissions. As a reminder, an electric vehicle emits no greenhouse gases when in use. This reduction incarbon footprint can be quantified and included in your carbon footprint. The electrification of a fleet is part of a global approach to ecological transition.
Professional leasing is not an end in itself, but the essential building block of a coherent environmental strategy.
Make your energy transition now, with a range of new 100 % electric vehicles available for leasing from Beev!
How do you set up your business leasing with Beev?
Setting up a business lease can seem complex. But with the right support, the transition can go smoothly and quickly.
The key stages
The success of a professional leasing project depends on a methodical approach. It must take into account operational, financial and technical aspects.
- Analysis of fleet requirements
It is the first step before choosing vehicles. This analysis enables us to carry out a precise diagnosis of your uses and to accurately size your vehicle requirements. autonomy of each vehicle.
- Choice of vehicles
It follows directly from the analysis. The market for electric vehicles has expanded considerably in recent years, and now offers solutions for virtually every type of business use. From compact city cars to saloons and SUVs, the choice is vast. Consult free of charge our multi-brand catalogue to compare the different options available. - L'recharging infrastructure
An electric vehicle only makes sense if it can be recharged easily and at a controlled cost. There are three main solutions: recharging on company premises, recharging at employees' homes and public recharging. To find out more, download our white paper on the installation of charging points. - Contract monitoring and management
Beev offers you digital fleet management tools that centralise all the information you need. An overview of your fleet, alerts on important deadlines, monitoring of energy consumption... These tools give you complete visibility of your fleet to help you optimise it.
Take advantage of our leasing offers for electric cars
Support from Beev
At Beev, we have developed a personalised approach to transform your business leasing project into an operational success. Our added value lies in our ability to coordinate all the parties involved so that you have a single point of contact.
- Negotiated and multi-brand offers
Thanks to the volumes we handle and our partnerships with all the players in the market, we are able to obtain preferential pricing conditions. Our discounts can be as much as 30% on certain models.
What's more, our multi-brand independence means we can objectively compare all the options available on the market. Our aim is not to sell you this or that vehicle, but to identify the most appropriate solution for your use and your budget.
This advisory, rather than commercial, approach is much appreciated by our professional customers, who need an expert, impartial view.
- Formulas with no deposit and no higher first rent
Unlike some offers that impose a higher first rent, our contracts offer strictly identical monthly payments from start to finish.
- Maintenance and support included
Our contracts systematically include a complete package of services to give you total peace of mind. This all-inclusive package eliminates any unforeseen vehicle-related expenses. Your budget is under control month after month and your teams can concentrate on their missions.
- Complete recharging solutions
We design and deploy the recharging infrastructure that will guarantee optimum use for your fleet of vehicles. Our team of experts coordinates the installation by our certified partners and provides long-term maintenance of the infrastructure.
Conclusion
Business leasing for electric vehicles is now becoming a viable solution for companies. It makes it possible to modernise the vehicle fleet while preserving cash flow in the face of a cash purchase that would tie up large sums of money.
The current regulatory context is further strengthening this appeal. As environmental criteria become progressively stricter, the quota of clean vehicles will have to increase progressively. Fortunately, the tax advantages reserved for electric vehicles create a favourable economic equation.
At Beev, every day we help companies of all sizes make the transition to electric mobility. Our multi-brand expertise, negotiated rates and personalised support make us the ideal partner for making your business leasing project a success.
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