An EV-focused tariff (as offered by E.ON and Octopus) slashes energy costs by around two thirds during off-peak hours, which are typically between midnight and 6am. That’s less than 2p per mile for the Tesla Model Y Long Range, or equivalent to 355mpg in a petrol car.
Most cars and all new home chargers will let you preset charging times to match cheaper energy rates.
5. Be smarter with public chargers
It has never been easier to access a public charger. Most new AC and all DC rapid chargers are required by law to offer contactless payments without having to sign up as a member. That’s a positive step, but it’s often the most expensive way to use them.
Several charging networks have paid-for membership schemes with reduced rates. Ionity, for example, offers a 45% discount for £10.50 per month.
Services such as Bonnet offer similar but without restricting drivers to a single provider. Its Turbo Boost membership costs £8 per month and cuts charging costs by 15%. A Tesla Model Y driver would recover that fee in less than 300 miles. That’s worth considering if you’re a high-mileage user.
6. Top up at work
Workplace charging is more common for van fleets, but it can also help company car drivers to go electric.
Work is a convenient place to plug in if you can’t do it at home, while also avoiding relying on expensive public chargers. That’s a win-win for most employers, and there’s plenty of support available.
Fleets can claim up to £350 per socket for up to 40 workplace chargers and provide free charging without drivers being taxed for it, even if it isn’t used for business trips. That includes plugging in at your passenger’s workplace if you’re carpooling, but check with their boss before you do so.
7. Hot tips
All cars lose a bit of range when temperatures drop off, but it’s more obvious with an EV. Cold conditions slow the chemical reactions in the battery, which hurts efficiency, and there’s no petrol or diesel engine for the car to scavenge heat from to warm the cabin. The result is reduced efficiency and higher costs.
