Energy Efficiency Measures

Electric Vehicle Charging

Charging electric vehicles is becoming increasingly commonplace in society. Whether you’ve made the switch to full electrically powered vehicles or you have a plug-in hybrid finding an EV ChargePoint is always a consideration you will have and can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.

The charging network across the UK is increasing it’s availability to make business and leisure travel more comfortable and accessible for those with a carbon conscious mindset. However, we still see limited understanding in the public domain but most importantly the fear of running out of charge still plays on people’s minds.

To help with your understanding on how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle the EST have published what they estimate are the standard charging times from a state of 20% charge to 80% charge based on charging power output.

Battery electric vehicle charging times (assumed from 20% state of charge)

Charging your vehicle at home

So what’s the best answer for you at home to maximise your potential with an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Install your own electric vehicle charging point. You can charge your vehicle overnight and save on the typical cost of charging at public charging points. We’ve detailed further down the page the potential offset to a petrol/diesel engine vehicle as well.

Our project partners work in compliance with the electric vehicle consumer code for supplying and installing charging points for electric vehicles. We want to give you as consumers the confidence to install a charger at home that suits you and that it can be provided to the highest quality standards.

We’ll also advise you on how to register with the Distribution Network Operator as you need to ensure the network is ready to cope with the demands of a vehicle charger in your street. The UK Government provides advice on how to register new energy devices here if you want to get ahead of the game.

Is a home EV ChargePoint right for me:

If you have off street parking to site a charging point.
Wi-fi or 3G/4G/5G Connectivity.
Using a home charger will be faster than using the standard plug on the wall.
If you’re charging your electric vehicle at home your electricity bills will go up but your petrol/diesel expenditure will go down.
You want to make an environmentally friendly choice on how your make journeys.
As renewable energy solutions become more commonplace and the National Grid is being de-carbonised you’re putting less reliance on fossil fuels by making the switch.
You’d like to make the most of switching to special energy tariffs to support the cost of charging an electric vehicle.
You may have solar panels and/or battery storage that can support the charging of your electric vehicle.

Home Versus Public Charging Costs

Whilst it won’t always be possible to charge your vehicle at home, it’s always useful to understand the costs for comparison. Charging costs will depend on the model of your vehicle and its battery size. Plug-in hybrids cost less to recharge as they have smaller batteries, but you also need to factor in the higher cost of the petrol or diesel required for the vehicle’s engine.

For plug-in hybrid vehicles the petrol and diesel cost will vary depending on how frequently the car is recharged and driven on battery power.

The EST provide insight into the typical costs of charging electrical vehicles:

Changing your energy tariff

If you are charging your EV at home, your electricity bills will increase. It is essential to shop around to find a suitable electricity tariff to make the most cost effective solution.

The Energy Saving Trust states that you could save £300 a year by switching to a cheap fixed-rate energy tariff of £0.14/kWh. With an average annual mileage of 7,400 miles, that works out to around 5,186 ‘free’ electric miles a year.
It may be helpful to switch to an off-peak tariff to benefit from cheap overnight electricity. Some energy companies offer tariffs that would reward you for charging your car at off-peak times, such as overnight. Switching to an Economy 7 tariff could cut the cost of your electricity bill.
Look out for new types of ‘smart’ off-peak tariffs which could save you even more money. Smart meters will make it easier for energy suppliers to offer new types of ‘smart’ off-peak tariffs that could help you save money when you charge your vehicle at off-peak times. These tariffs may also give you the option to get your supplier to charge your car at the cheapest possible time in the day, for guaranteed savings, such as when it is windy, to take advantage of renewable power.
Discounted electricity tariffs for electric vehicle drivers. Some energy suppliers have started to offer discounts to energy bill payers who lease or own an electric vehicle.
You may already benefit from a special energy tariff because you have made the switch to solar panels and/or battery storage in your home. This can prove very beneficial in assisting the charging of your electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.