EV Tariff for electric cars

The size of your house will influence how much you pay on your energy bill. The same is true for your electric car choice.

The  range and efficiency of your electric car will influence how often you need to charge your car and how much energy it takes to keep it running.

Regardless of the EV tariff you're on, you will use more energy  (and increase your annual bill) if you're driving a lower efficiency EV. 

'Efficiency varies significantly between EV models, generally the heavier the electric car the lower the efficiency. 

'For  example, a Tesla Model X owner will spend 60 per cent more on charging  their car each year than a Nissan Leaf owner – assuming they drive the  same number of miles per year. 

'The  efficiency unit for electric vehicles is miles per kWh, i.e., the miles  that can be covered using one unit of electricity. The lower the  efficiency number the more energy required to travel a distance.'

If  you have still to choose your electric car and want to save money, then  it is definitely worth considering the efficiency rating of your car,  in the same way a petrol or diesel motorist may look at miles per gallon  when buying.

The short answer? Yes, you can. The long answer? It depends on your tariff and energy provider.

Most  electric vehicle deals are only available to existing customers of that  company, but you may still be able to get one with a different provider  by jumping through some extra hoops.

If  you are already an existing customer, switching to a different EV tariff should be simple, as you can just call your provider up and they will  start the switching process for you.

However,  its worth knowing that to switch to an EV tariff you will need to have a  smart meter installed, if you haven't done so already. 

If you are not an existing customer, there are a few extra steps involved.

You  will need to switch to the energy provider first before you are able to  take up an EV contract. Make sure you opt for their cheapest energy  deal when you do, as it could take a number of weeks to make the switch.

Once  you've made the switch, you should be able to ask your provider to  begin the process of moving you to an EV tariff, but only after the  contracted start date.

However, many  providers are not taking on new customers at the moment, so it may be  difficult to switch. The situation changes regularly though, so it is  worth contacting your ideal provider to discuss the options for  switching. 

If you can do it, switching to an EV energy tariff could save you hundreds on your energy bill.

Electric  car drivers can shift a large proportion of their electricity to the  night time, when wholesale electricity rates are lower and energy  suppliers pass these savings on in the form of off-peak ev tariffs.

Generally, an EV tariff will slightly increase the cost of powering the rest of a driver's home, but this is outweighed by the savings made on charging their car.  

'The end result is a significant reduction in annual bills.'

But, its not just your wallet that could see a positive impact from switching to off-peak charging. 

 'Using electricity overnight is not only cheaper, it's cleaner  too because of the way the UK's electricity is generated. 

Electricity consumed overnight generates 25 per cent less C02 on average than electricity used during the evening.

 Filling up an EV at the lowest cost will be a shift in mindset for many of us. 

As  a rule of thumb, charging your car slowly when it is parked will be the  lowest cost and often most convenient. 

When it comes to choosing the right EV  tariff, it is all about the off-peak rates (and then using those  to charge your electric car)

The best tariffs for the average EV driver have the cheapest off-peak rates for the longest period of time overnight. 

If EV drivers smart charge (schedule their charge to align with cheaper,  off-peak rates of their energy tariff) they will make use of the  off-peak windows EV tariffs, reducing the cost of charging their car.'

But  this can unfortunately mean that drivers could be left paying more for  their daytime energy use, so customers need to be extra vigilant on  their energy consumption.

For EV owners to accurately estimate their annual energy bill they need  to consider their driving and charging habits as well as home usage. 

To  ensure you are getting the best deal on your energy tariff, consider  when you would likely be able to charge your electric car, and be firm  with when you expend your extra energy. 

On a standard tariff, buying an extra 2,000kWh of electricity could mean you pay around £280 extra a year. If you currently pay the UK average of £58 per month for electricity, your bill could rise to £81.

It’s why shopping around definitely pays to find the right electric car tariff  & EV tariff for you.

As the name suggests, these are energy tariffs aimed at owners of  electric vehicles (EVs) that use their home electricity to charge their  car. 
 

There are generally two types of EV tariffs:

• Two-rate tariffs, that offer cheaper electricity overnight. The most  common, and typically the cheapest type of EV tariff, offers two  different electricity rates depending on the time of day, with much  lower rates at night. This means you can charge your car – or run your  dishwasher, washing machine etc (there are often no stipulations on what  you can use the cut-price electricity for) – very cheaply overnight. 
   
• Single-rate tariffs, where you pay the same rate throughout the day, but it's often discounted if you have an EV. The  other type of EV tariff works the same way as regular deals, where you  pay a flat rate, but it'll be a special price if you've an EV, or you'll  get extras such as bill credit.