Rideshare apps are growing popular because of the rising fuel costs worldwide. The sharing economy is becoming more widely accepted in many countries as customers can get quality services at a minimal price. This has also increased the demand for private-hire drivers. If you wish to work as a PCO driver in London, you’ll see that there are many economical choices for you.
If you intend to get a PCO car for hire, you’ll need to get familiar with the PCO cars in the market, their features, fuel efficiency, and what makes them a great option for a rental. Here are our top picks for PCO car rentals:
The Kia E-Nero – The Full-Electric Car
If you’re looking for a quality electric car with a stunning exterior and interior, the E-Nero by Kia is a great option. The vehicle offers you a 280-mile range on a single charge and the interior interface is also simple. You don’t have an over-complicated dashboard. However, you do get traditional gauges, buttons, and a touch screen. You won’t have to spend hours figuring out how the features and the dashboard works.
The car is also spacious and can easily fit average-sized adults with comfortable leg room. Its cargo area is also reasonably sized and can be increased when the rear seats are folded. You’ll appreciate the lack of buzzing, rattling, and whirring wind noise even after 80 miles per hour. So, you’ll be quite comfortable with this spacious and elegant all-electric vehicle.
The E-Nero will cost you anywhere between £200-£230 for weekly rentals and a fixed deposit of £480-£550, depending upon your rental company. It also has an average cost of £17.02 at home and £16.05 at public rapid chargers going from battery charges of 20% to 80%. And at a public charge point, it can take an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes for a 50Kwh power charge and 30 minutes for a 150Kwh battery charging point.
Nissan Leaf – Strong Value With Keen Pricing
The Nissan Leaf has been around for more than a decade. It was first introduced in 2010 and it took the electric car market by storm. Now it has become one of the best-selling electric cars in the UK. Moreover, it’s also one of the most preferred vehicles by PCO drivers.
The Nissan second generation leaf model is entering its fifth year despite the tough competition from Kia, Tesla, and the Toyota Prius. In the latest model, Nissan has increased the battery power to 40Kwh, the range to 149 miles on a single charge, and the motor range from 145bh to 236lbft. And with a 64Kwh battery in the Nissan Leaf Plus, you get 212 miles on a rapid charge. This extra nudge has taken the speed from 0-62 in just 7.9 seconds, and that’s amazing, considering it’s an electric car.
You’ll also get an elevated view in the driver's seat because of the battery storage below. It’s a major plus when you’re driving at night with low visibility. However, if you’re taller than average, you might have a difficult time adjusting the seat and steering wheel to your liking. All in all, it’s a great PCO car with an elegant and comfortable interior.
The Nissan Leaf will cost you anywhere between £200-£230 for weekly rentals and a fixed deposit of £490-£550, depending upon your rental company. It also has an average cost of £4.80 – £7.44 at public rapid chargers going from battery charges of 20% to 80%. And at a public charge point, it can take 40 – 60 minutes for a 50Kwh power charge and 30-40 minutes for a 150Kwh battery charging point.
Toyota Prius Plus – The Great City Car
The Toyota Prius plus is an economical city car that’s a great investment for car owners who’re looking to cut down on their dependency on traditional petrol vehicles. It’s a bigger version of the Prius and has a seven-seat capacity. From the outside, it looks like it’s from the Prius range and has more leg space throughout the car. You can comfortably seat tall people in the front rows and the middle rows as well. However, the third row is more suitable for children.
Many of these cars are used as minicabs in Ubers because of their seating capacity, easy drive, and low running costs. The car is a dream to drive with its light control, all-around visibility, and instant torque, even in pure EV mode. So, you’ll feel relaxed and in control while you’re driving around London picking up passengers.
The Toyota Prius Plus will cost you anywhere between £200-£230 for weekly rentals and a fixed deposit of £490-£550, depending upon your rental company. It has a battery range of 25 miles powered by an 8.8Kwh battery. It’ll cost you 0.11p per mile on a charge. Also with an 11.887 gallon or 45 litre tank in the car, a full tank will cost £1.677 per litre and £6.348 per gallon, costing you £75.015 on fuel for a full tank and £2.75 on a charge.
E-Nero and Nissan Leaf are exempted from congestion charges, which are £15 per day. And multiplied by six days a week, you’ll save £90 per week and £4,680 per year in congestion charges. So electric vehicles are a great option for a PCO driver.
Find Kia E-Nero PCO Car For Hire In London
There are many cars available for rent at PCO rentals like Kia E-Nero, Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius Plus, Nissan Leaf, MG 5, etc. These are all great electric and hybrid vehicles that can offer you fuel efficiency, comfortable drive, and a spacious interior for your passengers. If you’re looking for an affordable PCO rental for hire in London to rent a Kia E-Nero, Toyota Prius, or MG 5, check us out at G&M Direct Hire.
We’re one of the leading PCO car rental companies in London with PCO-licenced cars for rent in South West London, Chelsea, Tottenham, and many more areas. Get in touch with us for more information on our services and get your hands on the latest Kia E-Nero model.
About The Author
Thomas Arden been working in the operations department of a renowned transport service and booking firm in London for the past 6 years. He also writes for acclaimed websites and magazines to educate his readers about the latest trends and news in UK’s transport services industry.
