AN INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC CAR TARIFFS

So you’ve bought yourself a shiny new electric car. Now you’ll want to make the most of it, and that means taking a long hard look at how you use energy. Autovolt reached out to a few energy companies that each provides electric vehicle tariffs, designed to offer the best compromise between energy provision for your home and car.

Why choose an electric vehicle-specific tariff in the first place though? Nick Arnott, senior commercial manager at OVO Energy, says customers can benefit from not only home charging but public charging too, “OVO Energy’s EV Everywhere keeps costs down and benefit from additional services. The tariff offers energy customers the option of either a smart home charger or membership to the largest nationwide electric vehicle charging network”

Jo Scott, product owner at E. On adds, “Drivers of electric vehicles typically use more electricity than non-EV households – and often at different times of the day, such as when trickle charging overnight. Our Fix and Drive tariff provide a reward each year of £30 credit which is the equivalent of driving 850 miles.”

Electric cars are expected to put added pressure on the National Grid because of charging cars, but if it is done overnight through encouragement by way of cheaper tariffs, then it can help balance the whole system. Phil Valarino, senior manager of electric vehicles at EDF comments, “Not only is it beneficial when it comes to cost, the electricity for our GoElectric tariffs backed by zero-carbon electricity. What’s more, whilst EV charging is expected to add to the demand on the UK’s electricity system, the demand on the National Grid tends to be lower overnight. So, by charging during off-peak hours EV owners add less pressure on the grid than charging during peak times.”