How to save money on an electric car

It’s quite insane to imagine, but 2018 is nearly coming to a close. Regardless of whether you have a new year’s resolution lined up for 2019 or not, it’ll be year filled with advancements and new beginnings – but are you prepared to capitalise on these changes? Many publications cite electric vehicles as one such advancement that will take the world by storm in the next few years. However, many road-users aren’t aware of which method of running and charging an electric car is the most effective. We’ve lined up a few suggestions that might help you make this decision.

1.     Charge your electric vehicle at home

This will be the go-to for most electric vehicle owners, with 85 per cent choosing to do so – it’s convenient and doesn’t cost much. Most electric vehicles will require a 13amp domestic power supply to be charged, which is essentially the same power supply required by hoovers or a TV. You would use a standard 3 pin plug with an EVSE cable or wall mounted home charging point, with the latter costing around £400 via the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) grant. For a full charge at home, the cost is £3.64 on average.

2.     Take your electric car to charge at work

This one can be a bit more complicated, as even if your workplace has a charging station, some will provide it for free as an incentive whilst other organisations set a paid tariff. Most businesses opt for a time-based tariff to encourage employees to not hog charging spaces, but this can vary. However, the real issue is that most businesses, especially SMEs, will not invest in this venture. To persuade your company, under the Workplace Charging Scheme, the government offers grants to organisations, which provides up to £500 per socket at 75% of the total cost of installation – up to a maximum of 20 sockets for staff use. This link will help you find an accredited charging point installer in your area.

3.     Find a public charging station

Probably the most difficult solution to charging your electric vehicle, as charging points are rare in South Wales and many that do exist are restricted. However, apps like Zap Map allow you to track charging stations across the UK, letting you know if they’re in use, and constantly updates new stations. As for price, since most charging stations in urban locations can cost up to £7.20 for 30 minutes usage it isn’t ideal for day-to-day activities. It is more useful for topping up your charge in tandem with home charging.

In summary, to benefit from having an electric car, installing a charging point at home is the most useful solution. Nevertheless, new electric and hybrid vehicle registrations in Wales rose by 35 per cent in 2017 compared to a UK average of 27 per cent – this could be a new future for renewable driving in Wales.