Electric vehicles (EVs) are a great choice if you want the latest car technology and something a little eco-friendlier.
If you choose one of the many EVs available on the Motability Scheme, we’ll support you with a smart way to charge it too.
In this article, we explain what smart EV charging is and how to access it.
- What is smart EV charging?
- How does smart charging work?
- Do you need a smart meter for EV charging?
- How smart charging can save you money
- Is it easy to have a home chargepoint installed?
- How to choose the smartest EV energy tariff for you
- What’s the future of smart charging?
What is smart EV charging?
Smart charging is simply charging your EV at home in a cost-effective way. Your smart charger is a home chargepoint that aligns with the smart tariff to charge at the times the tariff is cheapest.
The smart charge app communicates with your car, chargepoint, tariff and grid to figure out the cheapest times to charge your vehicle. This saves you money and lowers your vehicle’s running costs.
You’ll need a home chargepoint with a smart meter to smart charge.
How does smart charging work?
Smart charging lets you plan when you want to charge your EV. It can save you money by only charging your car at the most cost-effective time for you, like when the national grid tells it demand is low.
As vehicle-to-grid (V2G) becomes more popular, your smart charger will be able to do other things, like sell its charge back to the national grid when you do not need it. Only some EVs can do this, right now.
Do you need a smart meter for EV charging?
Some chargers allow you to schedule charging based on assumed off-peak hours without a smart meter, but this is less precise and will not respond to live pricing.
If you lease an EV through the Motability Scheme but cannot get a home chargepoint, we’ll offer you a subscription to the UK’s largest public charging network, bp pulse.
How smart charging can save you money
Smart charging can save you money if you’re not on a fixed tariff. This is because on a fixed tariff you’ll always pay the same amount for your energy, no matter when you use it.
Smart charging happens through connecting to an app. You’ll then tell your chargepoint how much charge you want and when you want it.
Here are the benefits of smart charging:
- Lower your vehicle’s running costs
- Contribute to clean power
- Help the national grid stay balanced
Is it easy to have a home chargepoint installed?
If you have off-street parking next to your home, you could get a home chargepoint and standard installation included in your lease.
How to choose the smartest EV energy tariff for you
Smart charging your EV could help you save money on your car’s running costs and be better for the environment.
One of the biggest benefits is you can make the most of EV energy tariffs, which offer cheaper electricity rates at night, during off-peak hours.
For example, Octopus Energy lets you set your smart charger to take advantage of the low-rate charging times.
Several suppliers offer smart tariffs which would work with your home chargepoint.
A ‘time of use’ tariff is where you can benefit. This is an electricity pricing plan that charges you different rates at different times of the day. This helps you save money in other ways too, like running the washing machine during off-peak hours.
Similar variants are sometimes known as ‘type-of-use tariffs’. A tariff like this will help you save compared to a standard variable and fixed tariff where the rates do not vary during the day.
Make sure you check the tariff details first, as some packages ask you to pay a higher rate for general electricity use during the day.
Remember, your energy bills will go up when you charge at home, but your petrol or diesel costs will drop to zero.
Make sure to shop around for the best price. You can compare tariffs online to find the best deal for you, or visit Citizens Advice for tips on choosing your energy tariff.
What’s the future of smart charging?
It’s looking bright for your pocket. As technology evolves, there will likely be even more ways you can save money using smart charging in the future.
Smart technology will help charging stations communicate with the national grid better. This will mean people can monitor energy use in real time, then react to demand and problems faster.
AI will likely become an important part of smart charging too. It could predict how much EVs needs to charge and manage the charging more effectively.
Interested in leasing an EV on the Scheme?
If you receive a qualifying mobility allowance, you can use it to lease an EV on the Motability Scheme.
Remember, you’ll get insurance, breakdown cover, servicing and maintenance included in your lease.
Learn more about EVs.
Related articles
Electric car charger basics: EV connector types and charging cables
Is wireless charging available for electric cars?
How to get used to driving a new car
