Nearly half of motorists (44%) don’t know what it costs to charge an electric vehicle (EV) at home, despite saving up to £1,000 by switching, according to new research.
ScottishPower is now encouraging drivers to consider make the switch after the finding from the research, commissioned through Censuswide.
A typical petrol car could cost around £1,177 a year in fuel based on UK averages of 7,400 miles per year. But a typical EV charged at home on a low-cost smart tariff could cost around £155 a year in electricity, representing a potential saving of more than £1,000 annually.
The findings also revealed that 47% are unsure whether savings from home charging would offset the cost of installing a charger, 38% worry charging an EV could overload their home’s electrics, 37% charging takes too long to be practical and 55% don’t believe EVs have a sufficient range for longer journeys.
To help tackle some of the confusion, ScottishPower Green Ambassador and TV architect George Clarke is encouraging drivers to take a closer look at the facts before ruling out electric vehicles.
George Clarke said:
“I drive an electric vehicle myself and one of the biggest surprises was seeing how little it cost to keep charged compared with a petrol car. Once you understand how home charging works and take advantage of cheaper charging rates, the savings can really add up.
“There’s still plenty of confusion around EVs, particularly when it comes to charging costs, but the reality is often very different from what people expect. Before dismissing an EV, I’d encourage drivers to take a proper look at the numbers because the potential savings can be eye-opening.”
Andrew Ward, CEO of ScottishPower Customer Business, said:
“Many drivers are unaware of just how much money they could save by making the switch to electric. For a typical motorist, charging an EV at home on a low-cost smart tariff can cost a fraction of what they would spend on petrol or diesel over the course of a year.
“We’re already seeing growing demand from customers looking to take advantage of smart charging, with customer numbers on our EV Optimise add -on increasing by almost 400% year on year. As more people discover the savings available, we’re helping give drivers the confidence to make the switch.”
Image of George Clarke courtesy of ScottishPower
