Vegner Group help their employees make ‘phenomenal savings’

This month, we spoke to a proud Tesla Model Y owner who got behind the wheel through our salary sacrifice scheme at his company, Vegner Group. With over 650 employees, Vegner Group specialises in property management and building surveying.

Catching up with one of their employees, Russel, we delved into his journey of switching to an EV. Touching on the advantages of owning an EV and his impressive savings compared to his previous diesel car.

Russel has also been influencing his colleagues at Vegner Group to get behind the wheel of an EV themselves.

Russel: My Tesla Model Y is so fun to drive. I recently hired an EV while abroad, an MG, and I was so excited to get back to my own car. It really made me appreciate what a slick, cool car my Tesla is.

Elise: You’ll just have to hire another Tesla next time then! How was your journey up to getting delivery of your car?

R: The process was really simple. There was a brief delay because Tesla changed their prices, but once I placed the order, I got the car within a month. I also opted for a home charger, which was a bit trickier to install due to my loop meter, but once it was set up, it's been so easy to use.

E: That’s great, sounds like a very smooth experience. How have you found the past year of having an EV?

R: It's been fantastic. The car is packed with gadgets - you can watch YouTube, Netflix, and Disney Plus while charging which my child absolutely loves. Money wise, the scheme is brilliant too. All maintenance and insurance is covered, so I just charge and go. I looked at the costings in more detail the other day and the savings compared to my previous diesel Audi Q5 are phenomenal. I'm spending about £70 a month on charging versus £300 a month on diesel.

E: That's a great saving. Have you encountered any challenges with charging or range so far?

R: Not really. The car is intelligent enough to tell me how many miles I have left and direct me to the nearest charging point. It even recalibrates for longer journeys, factoring in charging stops. The only thing to remember is to plug it in when you get home.

E: It sounds like you've really embraced the EV lifestyle.

R: Absolutely. I've become quite an advocate within our company. When colleagues complain about their cars or ULEZ charges, I tell them to get an EV. I've even managed to encourage a couple of them to get one. Our Director of Health and Safety, Head of Systems, and one of our Brand Managing Directors have both gotten Teslas through the scheme now.

E: That's so great to hear. What about the scheme appealed to you in the first place?

R: I think it’s just so easy. Going online, getting the code to log onto the quote tool, looking at available vehicles - it's all so simple. And everything just fell into place. The option to have either free electric miles or a home charger as part of the deal is a real bonus too. I opted for the charger since I live in a more rural area.

E: Did you have any concerns before getting an EV?

Rl: Not really. People ask questions like, "What if you're stuck in traffic and low on battery?" But it's no different from being low on fuel. In fact, when idle, the EV isn't using any battery, unlike a fuel car that's burning fuel. The car is so smart that it’s managing range and finding charging points really takes away any anxiety.

It's important to understand how it [salary sacrifice] appears on your wage slip too. The deduction might look different from the quoted price, but when you factor in the tax benefits, you are only paying what they quoted. Our Payroll Manager has been great at explaining this to people.

Elise: It sounds like you're really enjoying the whole experience. Any thoughts on your next car?

Russel: I'm on a three-year lease, so I'll probably be talking to the sales team again in about 12 months. I'm waiting to see if Tesla brings out a right-hand drive version of the Model X. I also like the look of the Porsche EVs. I enjoy a fun, comfortable car, and I'd like to see what new options are available when it's time to renew.

Vegner Group have helped their team travel more sustainably and make major cost savings.

Find out more by getting in touch with our team today, or if you’re an employee why not convince your company to help your colleagues get into an EV.