Covase bundles EV, charger and solar with salary sacrifice scheme

Covase has launched a new salary sacrifice solution, Perx, that combines electric vehicles (EVs) with home charging, solar power and battery storage.

The offering aims to simplify the EV adoption process for employers and employees alike – removing the hassle and fragmentation that can come with managing multiple providers for vehicles, charging infrastructure, and renewable energy, it says.

Simon Homer, co-founder and managing director of Covase Fleet Management, said: “We’ve been aware of salary sacrifice for a long time, but always felt the market was saturated with similar offerings.

“We didn’t want to enter the space unless we could do something different - Perx is our answer to that.”

Extending Covase’s packaged approach

Covase currently manages a fleet just under 1,000 vehicles and has been operating in the sector for 20 years.

The leasing broker and fleet management specialist works with two funding partners – Lex Autolease and Ogilvie Fleet – which Homer said helps maintain consistency and positions itself as a full-service fleet management provider rather than a transactional broker.

“Unlike traditional brokers, our clients pay us to manage their fleet via structured packages,” he explained. “So creating a bundled salary sacrifice product with EVs, home chargers and even solar and battery storage felt like a natural extension of how we already operate.”

Perx is modular by design, meaning drivers can start with an EV and home charger, then optionally add solar panels and battery storage.

Homer said Covase had already seen unexpected early interest in solar – often from employees who already have a salary sacrifice EV elsewhere but are interested in adding sustainable energy solutions.

“What’s exciting is that we can also offer solar and battery storage separately, outside of a car deal,” said Homer. “That’s a unique angle we believe will become more relevant as people think beyond the car to broader household sustainability.”

The Perx system comes with the capability to track and verify environmental, social and governance (ESG) data like carbon output and energy usage.

For the solar element of the offering, Covase will work with drivers on system recommendations and a savings survey, as well as a suitability assessment. It can also support installation and then ongoing maintenance.

Covase is working with solar suppliers like Tesla and Eco-Flow for its solar offering.

The company estimates based on its own data that each driver could save up to £8,000 in tax, £900 per year) and 40 tonnes of carbon emissions per driver.

Supporting both employers and employees

While early interest in Perx has been largely driver-led, Covase believes employers will increasingly see the benefit in offering a bundled solution, particularly in tracking and reducing emissions.

“We’re shaping Perx as something that ticks boxes for both sides: the driver gets convenience and savings, and the employer can drive employee retention and engagement, deliver cost savings, as well as boost their sustainability credentials,” Homer said.

Three Perx packages will be available, ranging from a simple EV lease to a more comprehensive bundle including charging and home energy systems.

Although Covase hasn’t disclosed specific targets for Perx uptake, the team sees long-term potential as UK businesses electrify their fleets and look for smarter staff incentives.

Perx is currently being rolled out across Covase’s existing client base, which includes a strong presence in the charity and facilities management sectors.

“We typically work with sub-200 vehicle fleets, often where the management of vehicles is split across HR, finance, and operations,” said Homer.

“That’s where our packaged, managed service really delivers value and Perx complements that nicely.”

New business, new audiences

While Perx is being introduced to existing clients first, Covase also sees it as a potential gateway to new company car customers.

“We’re hoping Perx will start some fresh conversations,” said Homer. “If we go into a van fleet organisation with Perx and discover they also run a company car fleet separately, then we’re well positioned to support them with that too.”

For now, Covase’s ambitions are targeted rather than mass market.

Homer added: “We’re set up for those businesses that need more hands-on support who may have been managing things themselves internally until now.”