New data from smart home experts Hive shows that 54% of people are planning to make the switch to an electric car in the next five years.
The research also found that while 58% would consider a home charger, there is still widespread confusion and concern about the cheapest and most efficient ways to charge them. One of the major misconceptions is that over a quarter (27%) of people think home charging would be more expensive than public charging.
When asked how much they thought it would cost to fully charge an average electric estate car with a home charger, respondents estimated around £21. In reality, the average cost is £7.50. Amidst rising living and fuel costs, over half (57%) are also concerned about the impact home charging would have on energy bills.
Most people surveyed (71%) are unaware that a home charger can be linked to their energy provider, showing the need for clear information in this area.
Hive SmartCharge Saver, a new tariff add-on supplied by British Gas and powered by Hive is being trialled by 100 customers this week. It’s an add-on that works with Hive EV charging and any British Gas tariff, using intelligent scheduling to charge a customer’s EV at the cheapest, and greenest time of the day. All the customer needs to do is tell Hive, via the app, when they need their car to be charged by and Hive will do the rest.
Customers will get a discount of 2p per kWH whenever their EV is plugged in continuously for 6 hours and 7p per kWh if the car is plugged in for longer, equating to a max saving of £2.10 per full charge for 30 kWH battery and up to £4.20 saving for a 60kWh battery.
Questions about EV charge point installation at home
Although there is a clear demand for home chargers, there’s a lack of understanding around the installation process. Over three quarters (76%) are in the dark about what makes a home eligible for a home charger and 36% are worried they would need to make significant changes in order to have one installed, when they just need to own their own property and have a driveway.
Henry Duff, Head of Net Zero at Hive, said: “We’re getting closer to the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles and with petrol prices at an all- time high, some people may be considering the switch to an electric vehicle. However, it is evident from our research that there’s still confusion around EV charging, particularly when it comes to costs. This is one of the reasons we’re launching the trial of the EV SmartCharge Saver tariff add-on, with the aim of making it available to all EV-owning customers in the future. As a responsible, trusted supplier, it’s our job to ensure our customers are on the most energy and cost-efficient rates and this new add-on aims to do just that helping customers save money on running an electric car. We understand the move to electric cars can be daunting, so we want to make the transition as simple as possible for those where home charging is an option.”
More info at: hivehome.com/shop/electric-vehicles
