Five ways EV drivers can keep charging costs low

The tariffs originally offered cheap overnight charging for customers with electric vehicles, allowing them to charge for less.

The motoring team at LeaseLoco.com say the change from the energy company is reflective of the current state of the industry, with Octopus Energy attributing it to ongoing volatility and changes in supply and demand. 

Now the experts are advising EV drivers that while off-peak charging is still the cheaper option, prices are becoming less predictable and drivers should stay flexible and take advantage of the best charging times to keep tariffs down. 

John Wilmot, CEO of car leasing company LeaseLoco said:

“The recent change brought in by Octopus Energy is reflective of what’s happening in the industry currently.

“It’s important to recognise that off-peak charging is still cheaper than peak times, but you can see where customers’ frustrations have come from.

“The reality is that prices are fluctuating as a result of the ongoing changes in the energy market and for EV drivers this means they should keep an eye on tariffs and charge at the cheapest times where possible.”

How to keep EV charging costs low:

Continue to charge at off-peak times

Despite fluctuating costs, it’s still cheaper to charge cars during off-peak hours. Even with recent tariff changes overnight charging rates are still lower than peak time. 

Avoid public chargers 

Where possible, try to avoid using public EV chargers as they’re generally a lot more expensive to use than home ones.

Charge efficiently

It’s generally advised to keep your car charged between 20% and 80% on a daily basis to prolong its life and performance. Avoid charging it to 100% unless you’re going on a long journey as this can increase battery temperatures and cause stress. 

Choose the right EV tariff

Many energy suppliers offer EV specific tariffs with cheap overnight charging rates. Regularly compare plans to help ensure you’re getting the best deal as prices change.

Make use of smart charging features

Smart charging allows you to plug in your EV and set your departure time. It will then automatically charge your car during the cheapest off-peak periods, without you having to check.

LeaseLoco is the UK’s biggest car lease comparison website, making it super quick and easy for drivers to filter and compare millions of car lease deals from the country’s leading car leasing companies to best suit their needs.

SWANSEA: Council trials on-street electric vehicle charging to help drivers without driveways

Swansea residents who park on the street are taking part in a pioneering trial that allows them to charge their electric vehicles outside their own homes – without creating a hazard for pedestrians walking past.

Swansea Council has teamed up with electric vehicle charging company Kerbo Charge to test an innovative solution for the growing number of EV owners who don’t have off-street parking. Ten households across the city have been selected to take part – following an open invitation to residents to register their interest last year – and have already had charging equipment installed at their properties.

The system works by cutting a shallow channel into the footway outside a resident’s home. A charging cable can then be fed from the home charger through the channel and across the pavement to the vehicle parked at the roadside – without leaving a cable lying across the pavement that could trip passers-by.

Stuart Davies, Swansea Council’s Head of Transport and Highways, said the trial was a response to the rapid growth of electric and hybrid vehicles on Welsh roads. “With the popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles increasing year on year, we know that we need to look at innovative new ways to enable all electric car owners to easily charge their cars,” he said.

He acknowledged that while many Swansea residents with driveways can already charge at home, those without off-street parking have been left relying on public charging points. “Residents that do not have a driveway or off-street parking at their homes have to rely on public charging points,” he said.

The council has expanded its public charging network in recent years, adding fast-charging points at council-owned car parks and on-street locations across the city to complement the wider commercial EV charging network. But the Kerbo Charge trial aims to go further – giving residents without driveways the same convenience as those who can charge at home overnight.

Davies said the trial would allow the council to assess whether the system could be rolled out more widely. “This trial will give us the opportunity to work with residents and Kerbo Charge and test this method of on-street charging to see the potential benefits and see if it is something we can develop further in the future,” he said.

Kerbo Charge has developed the channel solution specifically to address one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in urban areas – the lack of home charging for the significant proportion of households without off-street parking.

The trial is being funded by the Welsh Government with support from Transport for Wales, as part of Wales’s wider push to support the transition to electric vehicles.

Swansea is not the only Welsh council exploring new approaches to EV charging infrastructure, but the Kerbo Charge technology represents one of the more inventive solutions to the pavement cable problem that has long made kerbside charging difficult to implement safely.

Households across the city were invited to register their interest in the trial in advance, with ten selected to participate in the first phase.

The council said it would evaluate the results of the trial before deciding whether to expand the scheme. Anyone interested in taking part in future phases can register their interest with Swansea Council directly.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

On-street electric vehicle charging to be trialled in Swansea
Our previous coverage of the original announcement of this trial.

Two new super-fast EV charging hubs open near Swansea and the M4
The latest additions to the public EV charging network across the Swansea area.

Electric boost: EV chargepoints in Wales grow by 25.7% in a year
The rapid expansion of Wales’s public charging network.

EV repair postcode lottery leaves huge gaps across south west Wales
The challenges still facing EV drivers in rural and semi-rural areas.

Recharge with a view: Rhossili named one of the UK’s most Instagrammable EV charging points
A lighter side to the EV story – Gower’s charging point makes national headlines.

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I hate ev chargers that put a hold charge on your card in this realm

There's a Nissan charger that does it for $25

Then electrify America ones that do it for $50

Literally all ev charging costs for our leaf is at most 9 or 10usd most of the period it's 5usd

Its a punishment for those who can't afford much

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