Thousands of UK motorists have been handed a 7p-per-mile boost, but there is one major catch to take advantage of the massive savings. E.ON Next has repriced its Next Drive Smart tariff, with electric vehicle owners set to benefit from a staggering saving.
E.ON's overnight off-peak rate has been reduced to just 6.9p/KWh in a boost to those with home charging capabilities. It has been estimated that the new fee could save drivers travelling around 8,000 miles per year as much as £462 per annum compared to topping-up at the energy price cap.
Night-Only Charging Window
However, road users will have to top-up their vehicles late at night to benefit from the massive discounts. Customers on the Next Drive Smart V7.1 will only be able to charge their cars at 6.9p/KWh between 12am and 6am. E.ON has also launched a Next Drive Fixed V29 tariff which allows road users to charge their cars for just 8.5p/KWh between 12am and 6am.
Charging an electric car tends to be much cheaper overnight because the demand for electricity drops significantly during these hours. Topping-up at night can ensure that the grid doesn't get overloaded during the day, with motorists able to benefit from impressive savings by using their initiative and taking advantage of smart charging.
Industry Response and EV Ownership Trends
Gráinne Regan, Propositions Director at E.ON Next, said: "As more households switch to electric, we want charging at home to be simple, affordable and something drivers don't have to think twice about."
"Next Drive Smart makes charging an EV one of the cheapest habits a household can have. We want every driver to see real savings from day one and to make the switch to electric feel like the smart, easy choice it should be."
There are currently more than two million electric car owners in the UK, with the number continuing to rise every month. It is understood that 90% of EV owners now have access to off-street parking, with 81% owning a home chargepoint to zap up their vehicle.
However, this is still a geographic issue, with 25% of urban electric car EV owners lacking home charging access compared to just 8% of suburban and 5% of rural owners.
