Energy supplier says new 100 per cent renewable power tariff can deliver electric motoring for a tenth of the cost of petrol
ScottishPower has become the latest energy company to debut a dedicated tariff for electric vehicle (EV) owners that promises to help them cut the cost of running a zero emission vehicle.
The company said the exclusive new tariff would allow EV owners to access discounted charging during off peak hours, taking advantage of cheaper electricity rates through their smart meter for the first time.
It calculated that making use of the tariff would cut the cost of driving a mile in an EV to a tenth of the cost of driving a petrol car the same distance.
Dubbed SmartPower Green EV January 2021, the tariff will provide discounted power between the hours of midnight and 5am. A smart EV charger developed by Wallbox and installed by ScottishPower will also allowing charging to be scheduled in advance through an accompanying smartphone app.
The companies said the charger was the UK's smallest fast charging point with charging taking 50 per cent less time than some others on the market.
The tariff is the latest in a series of moves by ScottishPower to beef up its offer for EV customers. It last year announced had become the first integrated energy company in the UK to shift to 100 per cent green electricity and also launched a partnership with auto retailer Arnold Clark that allows buyers to purchase or lease an EV, book a home charging point installation, and sign up to the new ScottishPower tariff at the same time.
"A tariff that enables drivers to charge their vehicle for up to ten times less than the cost of petrol is a game changer," predicted ScottishPower CEO Keith Anderson. "ScottishPower wants to help customers benefit from electric vehicles as quickly as possible as that will help improve air quality and cut carbon quicker. Helping cutting the cost of motoring will help people switch to electric vehicles faster."
The launch of the new tariffs follows a flurry of reports this month showing that demand for plug-in vehicles in the UK is continuing to grow more rapidly than demand for conventional vehicles. A report last week from consultancy Deloitte predicted this trend is set to continue as EVs approach a point in the early 2020s when they undercut conventional vehicles on a total cost of ownership basis.