With energy costs being capped for the next two years, many homeowners can worry less about spiralling energy costs.
However, the cap is still a significant rise from where energy prices were just 12 months ago, and the new cost to fully charge a 64kWh EV battery at home jumped from £18.37 to £22.22 (£11.58 cheaper than it would have been had the government not acted).
So what can EV drivers do to keep their charging costs down? Here are a few strategies to tackle the increased cost of EV charging.
Schedule Overnight Charging
Even though there’s an ever-increasing number of domestic EV charge points, night-time charging is still the cheapest way to charge your car.
Not only does it take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity rates, but many energy suppliers also offer a specific EV energy tariff that further reduces the cost of charging.
For example, Octopus Energy’s Go Green electricity tariff offers EV drivers a flat rate of 7.5p / kWh for four hours every night (between 00.30 and 4.30 am), offering drivers incredible value for money.
Target Charging While Shopping
While public EV infrastructure is still in its infancy, there’s one sector leading the way concerning EV charging – supermarkets. Most large supermarket chains now offer domestic EV charge points in their car parks, and many even offer free charging.
So, if you’re driving an EV, it makes sense to try and do your shopping at a supermarket with EV charging facilities. Not only will you be able to charge your car for free, but you’ll also be supporting a business actively promoting sustainable transport.
Make Changes to Your Car Storage to Protect Battery Life and Performance
One of the issues regarding the performance and longevity of EV batteries is changing weather and temperatures. Over time, this can have a significant impact on the overall range of your car.
So, if you’re worried about the impact of the cold weather (or extreme heat) on your car’s range, there are a few things you can do. First, try and keep your car in a garage or carport if possible, as this will provide some protection against the elements.
Next, it’s a good idea to take steps to insulate these car storage locations (particularly garages) to better protect your car against cold and hot temperatures. Battery performance can drop by 10-12% in sub-zero temperatures and fall even further (17%) in heatwave conditions. By insulating your garage, you can help to offset some of this performance drop.
Check for any Government Grants or Incentives
The UK government has dramatically reduced the funding available to those looking to install EV charging infrastructure. However, there remains support available for flat owners and those who live in rented accommodation to apply for funding of up to 75% towards buying and installation costs of EV charge points in the UK, providing up to £350 per grant.
The renamed “EV Charge Point Grant” is also available to landlords, businesses, and local authorities, which could see new EV charge points pop up on your street or in your workplace car park.
Make Changes to Your Driving to Increase Range
One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your need to charge (and, therefore, the amount spent on charging) is by altering your driving habits.
By making small changes to how you drive – such as reducing your speed, avoiding excessive acceleration and braking, and only climate controls when necessary – you can increase your car’s range by up to 20%.
What’s more, many of the latest EV models now come with “eco” driving modes that help maximise range by altering how the car uses power.
Contact Applegarth Today to Learn More About Cost-Effective EV Charging
If you’re looking to save money on charging your EV, Applegarth can help.
We offer a range of cost-effective EV charge point installations that are perfect for domestic and commercial use. Not only can we help you to secure funding and install “smart” charge points capable of charging at the most economical times, but we can also provide ongoing support and maintenance to keep costs down.
To find out more, contact Applegarth today on 0151 649 8350.
