Charging your EV at home is the most convenient way to get back on the road, and it is also the cheapest.
When you get searching for an energy supplier you can now find a range of EV-friendly tariffs that mean you pay less to charge your car. And you can use a supplier that sources their energy from renewable sources, which means that you are being even more eco-friendly.
Two things to look out for – ‘time-of-use’ tariffs and off-peak tariffs for overnight use, can help reduce your energy costs as you shift your charging time out of the energy rush hour.
We have done a little research into energy tariffs, and this is a highlight list of available EV electricity tariffs. Bear in mind when looking at the prices that these are guidelines, are subject to change and there will be variances in the rates when day rates and peak rates are allowed for. So, when you are ready to switch make sure you use an EV energy tariff comparison tool.
Overall, an EV adds around a month’s electricity use (250 kWh) for every 1,000 miles you drive. So, an average UK driver doing 8,000 miles would add around £30/month to their electricity bill by charging an electric car without switching tariff.
So maybe off-peak rate contracts alone might be appealing, but you do still need to factor in your other usage. On average the cost of charging the average EV on an EV energy tariff is from about £62 per 5,000 miles on an off-peak tariff to £525 for 15,000 miles on a normal tariff. And public chargepoints do cost more, on average £6-10 for one hour’s charge time, giving you about 80% battery capacity.
What are the highlights that we found?
EDF: GoElectric 35 Jan 22
4.5p/kWh off-peak
35 hours off-peak/week
Day: 19.38p Night: 4.5p
Standing charge: 31.37p/day
Off-peak: 12am – 5am
E.ON: Next Drive (Limited charger/car compatibility)
4p/kWh off-peak
28 hours off-peak/week
Day: 19.33p Night: 4p
Standing charge: 23.23p/day
Off-peak: 12am – 4am
Dual fuel only, limited compatible chargers/cars
Scottish Power: SmartPower
4.7p/kWh off-peak
35 hours off-peak/week
Day: 17.33p Night: 4.736p
Standing charge: 46.06p/day
Night tariffs apply from 12am – 5am
British Gas: Electric Drivers Energy Plan (Jan 22)
5.99p/kWh off-peak
35 hours off-peak/week
Day: 19.5p Night: 5.99p
Standing charge: 25p/day
Night tariffs apply from 12am – 5am. Dual fuel only
Shell Energy: Charge and Drive
Day: 17.43p
Standing Charge: 24.4p/day
2,000 free miles equivalent to £80/year
Green Energy UK: Tide 2022
Multiple rates r 49 hours off-peak/week
Peak: 32.55p, Off-peak: 7.5p,
Normal: 17.99p
Standing charge: 31.24p/day
Peak: Monday-Friday 4-8pm/Off-peak: midnight-7am
Octopus: Octopus Go
From 5p per kWh or 28 hours off-peak/week
Day: 15.91p Night: 5p
Standing charge: 25.00p/day
4 hours/night off-peak, 12:30-04.30
Ecotricity: Green Electricity + EV
Day: 37.03p Night: 15.90p
Standing charge: 23.81p/day
£40 off a Rolec charger
It can seem overwhelming when trying to choose the best tariff, as you need to think about how much you will charge your car, your other electric usage, and if there any extra benefits offered by the supplier. Things like ‘free miles’ sound good but check the day rates for your electricity use.
Others might offer membership to a national network chargepoint provider for on the go charging, but if you aren’t doing long distance drives regularly you might not see the benefit. Ultimately, finding the right tariff might take a little research, but our figures show that there are a range of options available, so you will find something suitable.
If you want to know more Auto Express have also conducted research into prices and you might find their results helpful.
Caveat: These are estimates based on a standard three-bedroom family home, paid via a monthly direct debit and paperless billing. The prices were accurate in July 2021, and have come either directly from the energy supplier’s website, or have been obtained by contacting the energy supplier directly. Your prices and quotes may differ slightly. All EV energy tariffs in the UK guarantee 100% renewable energy, although the way in which they back this promise does vary.
