Flexed, the vehicle subscription arm of Autohorn Fleet Services, has reported that electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for nearly a third (27%) of all its new vehicle subscriptions so far this year.
It also said that demand for short-term EV rental has risen by 10% year-on-year.
Flexed saw strong demand for smaller electric cars – driven by company tax policies that favour lower-emission, low Benefit in Kind (BIK) vehicles.
Chinese brand EVs have also gained traction, offering excellent value through the subscription service, with BYD securing two positions in the company’s top 10 most-rented EVs year to date.
Scott Jenkins, sales and operations director at Autohorn, said: “We’re seeing a clear shift towards companies actively choosing electric vehicles over petrol or diesel.
“Our typical rental period is between four and eight weeks, with the ability to extend for up to twelve months, so it’s a flexible way for customers to fully trial an electric car before making a longer-term commitment.”
Flexed’s most rented electric cars in 2025 (year-to-date) include the Fiat 500e, the Jeep Avenger, the BYD Dolphin, and the Kia EV3.
Flexed said the uplift in demand for EV subscriptions contrasts with wider industry expectations, as the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA)’s 2025 Industry Outlook Report described business demand for rental EVs as ‘minimal’ across the sector.
Earlier this year, Flexed reported that ongoing vehicle supply issues had driven a 40% increase in demand for its subscription service.
Contributing factors included reduced UK vehicle manufacturing in the first half of the year, several manufacturer recalls, and production slowdowns at Jaguar Land Rover following a cyberattack.
