Provider comparison
Octopus EV vs The Electric Car Scheme
Side-by-side comparison from the PerkIQ directory. Cover, pricing, regulator status, and fit at a glance.
Octopus EV and The Electric Car Scheme are both popular EV salary sacrifice options for UK employers, but they suit slightly different priorities. Octopus EV wraps a renewable energy ecosystem and home charging around the car. The Electric Car Scheme is a B Corp specialist offering new and used EVs, fast low-admin setup, and a separate scheme to cut home charging costs.
The Electric Car Scheme
- Full EV range. New and nearly-new electric vehicles across the major makes and models on the UK market.
- Home charging bundled. Free Ohme home charger and installation, or a choice of 4,000 free charging miles via the Electroverse network.
- All-inclusive lease. Insurance for the employee and a named partner, servicing, maintenance, tyres and breakdown cover in one monthly figure.
- Early-termination protection. Cover for a range of life events so the employer is protected if an employee can no longer continue the lease.
- Renewable energy ecosystem. Links to Octopus Energy tariffs and the Electroverse public charging app for a joined-up EV experience.
- New and used EVs. A choice of new and used electric vehicles, with used cars typically delivered quickly.
- Day-one employer protection. Early-termination cover from day one, so the employer is protected from the outset.
- The Charge Scheme. A separate salary sacrifice arrangement for home electricity to reduce EV charging costs.
- All-inclusive lease. Maintenance, insurance and servicing included, with multiple funders accessed for competitive pricing.
- Sustainability-focused employers wanting a benefit aligned with net zero and renewable energy
- Employees with home charging: the bundled charger and energy links deliver most value to drivers who can charge at home
- SMEs through to large institutions: the scheme scales from small teams to embedded, white-label programmes
- Employees without off-street parking: home charging is central to the proposition, so on-street-only drivers see less benefit
- SMEs wanting a fast, low-admin launch: the platform is built for quick scheme setup
- B Corp-minded employers: certified B Corp credentials align with values-led organisations
- Budget-conscious drivers: used EV options and the home-charging scheme lower the total cost
- Very large enterprise fleets: better suited to SME and mid-market schemes than complex global fleet management
Free for the employer to set up and run. The cost is met by the employee through salary sacrifice, and the employer can save on National Insurance.
The monthly cost to the employee depends on the vehicle, term and mileage, offset by income tax and National Insurance savings via the low EV benefit-in-kind rate.
Savings depend on individual salary and the vehicle chosen; obtain a quote via Octopus EV.
Free for the employer to run, funded by employee salary sacrifice, with employer National Insurance savings.
Employee savings depend on salary and vehicle; obtain a quote via The Electric Car Scheme.
- FCA authorised
- Octopus Energy Group company
- 7,000+ UK businesses
- Free Ohme home charger included
- Electroverse charging network
- Founded 2018, London
- FCA authorised
- Certified B Corp (2024)
- New and used EVs
- The Charge Scheme for home charging
- Clients incl. Holland & Barrett, Time Out
- Founded 2020, London
Which should you choose?
Choose Octopus EV for the charging and energy ecosystem. A free home charger, the Electroverse network and Octopus Energy tariff links make it strongest for drivers who charge at home, backed by the scale of the Octopus Energy Group.
Choose The Electric Car Scheme if you want a fast, low-admin launch, the option of used EVs to lower cost, and B Corp credentials. Its separate Charge Scheme for home electricity is a distinctive way to reduce running costs, and day-one employer protection keeps risk low from the outset.
Both are free to the employer. Octopus leans on its energy ecosystem; The Electric Car Scheme leans on flexibility and speed of setup, which can suit smaller employers wanting to move quickly.
Pick the right one with data, not a sales pitch
Score your benefits stack with PerkIQ and you'll see which of these (or another provider entirely) closes the biggest gaps for your team.
Information on this page is editorial, gathered from public sources and the providers' own materials, and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation. For a quote, contact each provider directly or speak to an FCA-authorised broker. PerkIQ is not a reseller and earns no commission on provider sign-ups.
