Here's what we mean when we say we offer a flexible, short-term lease: Zevvy lets you select from our marketplace of electric vehicles, then customize the lease for the car by choosing your lease length (starting at just six months) and pay-as-you go miles vs. a monthly mileage package (starting as low as 1500 miles). We do not have mileage caps, and offer a buy-out at the end of the lease term with all mileage fees paid applied to the purchase price.
Zevvy offers a short-term, flexible lease for electric vehicles. The car will be registered to you, just like when you buy or lease a car the old-fashioned way. However, our agreement terms are shorter and more flexible than traditional leases and loans, and we let you drive as many miles as you need, paying only a few cents for each mile. Every mile you drive also counts towards the buy-out price of the vehicle should you choose to purchase at the end of your lease term.
Yes. Each EV comes with its own "Level 1" charger that can be plugged into a standard 110V outlet. For more information on charging electric vehicles, please check out our Charging page and our blog.
A traditional lease includes a base number of miles — usually 10,000 per year. If you exceed that number of miles in your lease term, the leasing company typically charges a $0.20-0.25/mile penalty when you return the car. Sometimes this can cost thousands of dollars. If you own that vehicle, every mile you drive will ultimately cost you a few cents in terms of wear and tear on the vehicle. Instead of paying little by little, you end up paying by way of large repair bills. According to AAA, the average cost per mile for gas and maintenance is $0.205/mile. In states with high gas prices - like California - this number can increase to $0.30/mile or even $0.40/mile. The older the car you drive, the higher the cost, typically. Our mileage fees are designed to leave gas and maintenance savings in your pocket. Even when you add the mileage fees to the base monthly fee and cost of charging, every mile you drive costs less than an equivalent gas or electric vehicle lease.
If you choose to purchase the car from Zevvy, there are a number of programs that provide up to $9,500 of rebates and grants, including the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program and Clean Cars 4 All , plus thousands in charging incentives. Starting in 2023, additional federal incentives will be available for the purchase of used EVs that meet specific criteria, per the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). When you're ready to purchase, the Zevvy team can help you understand which incentives are applicable and how to get them.
Zevvy does not offer a loan program at this time. If you decide to purchase your EV at the end of your lease term, we can help you find a financing partner (for example, a bank or a credit union) to facilitate the purchase of your vehicle.
We do not offer home installation, but our Support Team is available to assist you in finding the right charging solution and provide you with recommendations on home installation options once you are approved for an EV lease with Zevvy.
Yes, we only lease fully electric cars (also known as electric vehicles, or EVs) at this time. Our goal is to get more drivers switched over to EVs! Check out what we offer in our EV marketplace [link].
You have three options at the end of your lease term:
Return the vehicle
Renew the lease for another term
Purchase the vehicle, with all mileage fees previously paid applied to the buy-out price
You must keep the same car for the duration of your lease term unless there are any irreparable mechanical issues.
At this time, we only allow one lease per person.
Here’s what’s included in the warranty for your vehicle with Zevvy: a $400 annual maintenance credit voucher that covers most mechanical components on the vehicle, except for regular wear-and-tear items like tires, window wash fluid, and windshield wipers.
You may return the vehicle at any time during your initial term. Upon returning the vehicle, however, you will be responsible for any outstanding payments due per your contract.
The Zevvy lease is only available to California residents. If you're moving in-state, just notify us of your new address and you'll be all set. If you're moving out of state, we'll work with you to find a time for you to return the car. Alternatively, the buy-out option may be available if you'd like to purchase the vehicle and take it with you.
The Zevvy lease is only available to California residents, but you are able to drive the vehicle anywhere within the continental United States.
Requirements to be approved for an EV lease with Zevvy include:
California residency within our service area (700+ zip codes in the Bay Area and Central Valley)
At least 21 years of age
A safe driving record
Completion of our online application (including a soft credit pull, which will not impact your credit score)
Insurance coverage that includes: $100,000 for bodily injuries to any one person and $300,000 for injury/death to more than one person; $50,000 for property damage; physical damage insurance for full value of vehicle with a maximum deductible of $1,000 (note: there are additional requirements if you plan to use the vehicle for non-personal use)
Absolutely! We encourage Uber and other rideshare and gig drivers to apply for our flexible lease; in fact, we designed our EV leases with you in mind! Whether you drive a little or a lot, an EV from Zevvy is a great way to take more of your hard-earned money home with you, rather than spending it at the pump or repair shop. Numerous gig drivers already use Zevvy and find it lends them the flexibility needed to drive electric while on the job. Please note: if you intend to use the car for any non-personal use, including, but not limited to, rideshare services, delivery services, or making the vehicle available on short-term rental services, your insurance policy must also explicitly state that you are covered to the same or greater limits as required by law and is in full force whenever using the vehicle for said services.
Zevvy is currently available in more than 700 zip codes across the Bay Area and Central California, and along the coast from Carmel to Sea Ranch. We are planning to expand to other markets and hope to be serving thousands more drivers who want to go electric soon!
You are required to secure insurance on the EV you'll be leasing through Zevvy. Proof of insurance is required to complete the contractual agreement for the lease, and must meet the following minimum thresholds:
$100,000 for bodily injuries to any one person; $300,000 for injury/death to more than one person
$50,000 for property damage
Physical damage insurance for full value of vehicle with a maximum deductible of $1,000
Zevvy is the owner of the vehicle, and therefore will be entitled to any insurance proceeds for damage to, theft, or destruction of the vehicle. If you do not maintain the insurance we require or if the insurer does not pay a claim for any reason, you are responsible for any damage or destruction to, or loss of, the Vehicle and any loss we incur. If you intend to use the car for any non-personal use, including, but not limited to, rideshare services, delivery services, or making the vehicle available on short-term rental services, your insurance policy must also explicitly state that you are covered to the same or greater limits as required by law and is in full force whenever using the vehicle for said services.
Zevvy evaluates numerous factors when you apply for a lease, with the goal of finding you a car that ensures you realize the savings of having an EV. Each application is different, and denials can be made for a variety of reasons. Our Support Team will be able to provide you further details on your specific application if we are unable to approve you for a lease with Zevvy.
Yes. The credit minimum to qualify for our leasing platform is 580. We will perform a soft credit check when you complete our application, which will not impact your credit score.
Our platform allows for only one lessee per contract. However, a spouse or domestic partner may drive the vehicle if they are listed as a driver on your insurance policy.
You must have a valid United States driver's license in order to apply for a lease with Zevvy. As part of our diligence process, we require you to submit photos of your ID that include a picture of you. We cannot accept a paper ID at this time.
For sure!! And we encourage use of Zevvy EVs for long trips and vacations! Not only can your car can help you plan an efficient route and tell you which hotels and campsites offer charging equipment, but the more EVs folks see out on the highways and at campsites, the more the American public will accept EVs as a mainstream technology that works for everyone's lifestyles and needs. We have tons more to share on road trippin' with an EV in our blog.
It depends on the EV! It can be anywhere from a top speed of 80 mph and 60 miles of range, to a top speed of over 150 mph and 400 miles of range. Like any other product, it's all about how much you want to spend and what your needs are. However, even a lower-priced EV like the Chevrolet Bolt can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, has a (limited) top speed of 92 mph and can go 259 miles on a single charge.
Definitely! Most campsites are within range of a charging station, and many state and national parks offer chargers now, too. Bonus perk of camping with an EV: you can connect an inverter to your car's 12-volt system to run small appliances, lights, boomboxes, laptops and more, without ruining anyone else's vacation by running an obnoxious gas generator all night!
First and foremost: Your owner's manual or manufacturer's customer service hotline is the best resource to determine if your specific EV model can tow. Some EV models do allow towing. When they do, they can usually tow more than a comparable gasoline vehicle, as electric motors pull like a freight train. In fact, modern freight trains use electric motors to efficiently pull hundreds of thousands of tons. If you're towing, expect a sizeable reduction in range, though, and never tow unless your manufacturer recommends it.
No! They're easier to drive than gasoline-powered (AKA internal combustion engine, or ICE) cars. They have a single-speed transmission (no clutch or gear shifting) and an accelerator and brake pedals. Most EVs also have a "one pedal" driving mode that brakes the car when the driver releases the accelerator -- just like a golf cart. Can't get easier than that.
Almost every major "legacy" automotive company (Volkswagen, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota, Ford, Fiat, Mercedes, Nissan and others) now sells one or more EV models, with commitments from most of these companies to be completely electric in the next 10 to 15 years. There are also new companies like Tesla, Rivian and Lucid selling electric vehicles now, with a few even newer startups that may start delivering cars in the next few years.
An EV is an electric vehicle. While it can mean any vehicle that's entirely or partly driven by an electric motor, it's generally used to discuss cars, vans or trucks that use one or more electric motors as the only means of propulsion and a battery for energy storage.
That's like asking the best flavor of ice cream! It depends on the person and their budget, driving habits, brand preference and more. Zevvy offers what we think are the best choices for our customers' needs; check out our available models here.
It depends on where and when you charge it. The general rule of thumb is that charging at home, if possible, is much less expensive than at public charging stations. For example: if you live somewhere with very low residential rates at night, it can cost less than $5 to full charge an EV battery. The most expensive way to charge a car is at peak business hours on a fast charger at a public charging station; then it can cost $20 or more (still close to or less than the equivalent amount of gasoline!).
Yes -- but in Europe! That said, Tesla has announced non-Tesla EVs will be allowed to use Superchargers in the US soon. You'll need an adapter to use it, but those will be available as well.
You can charge an EV at home, at work or at a public charging station. There are thousands of stations nationwide, but the state with the most developed charging network is California. Check out Zevvy's dedicated Charging page and additional resources like these blog posts to learn more about EV charging:
Charging at Home
Charging Away from Home
Not as crazy as your credit card bill does when you're buying a lot of gas! If you sign up with your utility provider's "time of use (TOU)" plan and only charge at night, the average driver should only see about an extra $40 on their bill monthly. Compare that to having to fill up at the pump at $6 per gallon, and you can quickly see the financial benefits of making the switch to electric.
EVs are charged with "electric vehicle servicing equipment (EVSE)," a fancy term for one of those pistol-grip shaped jobbies that plugs into the car's charge port. Think of it as a gas nozzle that doesn't drip smelly, toxic liquid. They come in three "flavors":
Level 1, which plugs into a 110-volt wall outlet and takes a long time to charge (about 5 miles of charge per hour)
Level-2, which plugs into a 240-volt outlet (like for a clothes dryer or stove) and can charge an EV from zero to 80 percent capacity in 6-10 hours
DC Fast Charger (DCFC) or Tesla Supercharger, which are found at public charging stations and can charge an EV from zero to 80 percent capacity in 20 to 60 minutes.
Learn more about charging an EV on Zevvy's dedicated Charging page, or by checking out these blog posts:
Absolutely! If your equipment is up to code, installed by a licensed electrician and you follow your EV manufacturer's recommendations, it's statistically very safe (despite what news stories you may have seen). Much more worrisome is the 240,000 gasoline-powered cars that catch fire each year. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the incident rate for the Bolt EV is 0.0107 percent, or one-quarter of the average gas car’s incident rate.
Oil changes? Valve adjustments? Timing belts? Spark plugs? Nope, nope, nope and nope. They're all just (bad) memories for EV owners. Plus, most components in an EV are designed to last the life of the car. Even brake pads can last hundreds of thousands of miles thanks to regenerative braking, a feature of most EVs (learn more about "regen" here). Tires require some additional considerations (check out our blog article on EVs and tires here), and things like washer fluid, brake fluid and battery coolant do need to be checked and changed periodically -- but that's it! And the lack of maintenance needed on EVs equals more savings for you.
EVs have two batteries, believe it or not! One is the big traction battery, and the other is a smaller 12-volt battery that needs periodic replacement (basically the same battery as any gas-powered car uses to run the lights and radio, but EVs have lots of computers and other equipment that run while the car is parked to manage the battery, process over-the-air software updates and more). Your owner's manual or manufacturer's customer service hotline is the best resource for information on getting the most out of your car's big traction battery. The general consensus among EV owners is to not charge to 100 percent unless you're going on a long trip, to not let the battery discharge below 20 percent too often, and to only occasionally use a fast charger. Also, EV owners would remind you that modern EV batteries are designed with you and your busy, real-world life in mind! Being hyper-careful will likely not make a huge difference in battery life and performance over the long-term.
EV batteries are designed to last the life of the car but, of course, any manufactured part can be defective. Replacement battery packs can be $10,000 or more. That said, all our EVs have an 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty, so even if a replacement is needed while you're leasing with Zevvy, you won't have to pay for it.
Many EV models are equipped at the factory with special tires intended to increase range, resist punctures or meet other requirements. They can be more expensive than budget replacement tires, and the excellent performance of EVs can sometimes wear tires out faster. Check out our blog post on EVs and tires here to learn more about the specific considerations for tires when you're driving electric.