Latest news with #EVdrivers
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Plans for flexible energy tariffs to help households cut electricity bills
Households will be able to switch to flexible energy tariffs and use smart appliances to help cut electricity bills under plans set out by the Government. Energy minister Michael Shanks unveiled the next steps to give households and businesses more freedom and choice over how and when they use energy as part of aims to make savings of up to £70 billion in system costs by 2050. The Government wants to offer consumers new ways to take advantage of off-peak, lower electricity prices, through flexible tariffs and smart technology. This includes helping electric vehicle (EV) drivers get discounts on their electricity when using public chargers at off-peak times. It also plans to ensure suppliers make information on smart tariffs more accessible to consumers, while taking the next steps to offer tailored products and services based on electricity usage. The so-called Clean Flexibility Roadmap comes as part of the UK's net-zero aims, while also helping lower bills and boosting the resilience of the power network. Britain will need to shift towards more flexible energy use as the UK becomes more dependent on wind and solar power, such as charging EV batteries when wind is generating a lot of electricity. Mr Shanks said: 'This roadmap gives households and businesses the choice and control over when and how they use their energy. 'The flexible electricity system we are working to build will help make that a reality for consumers across the country, by supporting them to bring down their bills through using new tariffs and technologies. 'In this way we will protect working people's pockets and ensure they are the first to benefit from our clean power mission.' A flexibility commissioner will be appointed to lead the policy work, and an annual forum will be set up to track progress on the initiative. Akshay Kaul, Ofgem's director general for infrastructure group, said: 'A more flexible energy market will be a real game changer, giving households more control over what they pay for their energy. 'Small lifestyle tweaks such as programming a dishwasher or tumble dryer to run overnight when costs are low or charging your electric car during high winds can have a material impact on people's bills. 'At Ofgem we're opening up flexibility markets to bring better tariffs and products to consumers to make cheaper bills a reality.' The Government has also launched a two-month consultation looking at how more consumers can be supported to use energy flexibly.
Auto Express
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
All electric car drivers should start using Tesla Superchargers
This is a bit of a public service announcement (or ruining a well kept secret for those in the know). EV drivers: Use Tesla chargers! And not just Tesla owners, but anyone needing to top up on the go. More than half of Tesla Superchargers, including all the latest V4 units, are open to any electric car with a CCS connection – which is most of them. You can find them via Zap-Maps or Tesla's own site, but it's clear that this is still not common knowledge. With concerns over the availability of public chargers such a huge issue for plenty of buyers considering converting to EVs, this could be a massive help that many people aren't aware of. The newest V4 units are even contactless, so you don't need an app to sort payment, unlike earlier V3 chargers. Advertisement - Article continues below And here's even more public service information...! We've previously been scathing about how prohibitively costly public charging is, and how too many chargers don't have any pricing transparency. If you can top up at home for the vast majority of miles, then the numbers really stack up for an electric vehicle. However, if public charging is a regular fallback, then the cost is a lot less favourable versus petrol or diesel. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Predictably, and probably fair enough, Tesla charges owners of other brands' cars more than it does its own army of loyal drivers, but the units, generally 250kW ones – so, super-fast – are significantly below the apparent current norm of 85p-plus per kWh you find at most service stations or highway chargers. Admittedly, with Tesla you do have to watch out for steep overstay charges designed to make sure you vacate the spot as soon as the car hits the required level. Don't dwell too long over that coffee or comfort break, then. I genuinely don't want to sound like a walking Tesla advert – the company's cars are generally great, but then so are a lot of other EVs, and those models don't come with any baggage around the firm's figurehead, if that sort of thing bothers you. But making life easier for the growing number of electric vehicle drivers is really important, and hopefully this column will act as a sneaky hack to help Auto Express readers get ahead in any public charging chaos during the summer getaway! Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too . Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
Bloomberg
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Uber Drivers Are Now More Concerned About Charging Than EV Cost
When it comes to convincing millions of drivers to get behind the wheel of electric vehicles, Uber Technologies Inc. has good news and bad news. First, the positive: Prices are coming down to levels at which EV cost is no longer the top issue preventing drivers in the US and UK from going electric. This is a first in the four years Uber has been surveying drivers.
Auto Express
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Electric car drivers won't ever go back to petrol or diesel
It's a conversation we're having often with industry figures – how do we kick the UK's electric car market into life? Truth is, the majority of EV drivers (with a few exceptions) won't ever go back to petrol or diesel. If it works for you, then it works. That likely requires the ability to charge at home, but the point remains that a high proportion of EV drivers are happy with their choice. Nissan's figures show 95 per cent want another EV; Ford says 89 per cent of EV drivers don't go back to ICE; and our own Carwow Group data at Auto Express shows that 82 per cent of EV drivers say the same tech would be their first choice when they change vehicles. So there's clearly very little regret from those who've made the switch. Advertisement - Article continues below So why is there still negativity about EVs? I get why full-on car lovers, people without off-street charging, and those who do regular journeys of more than 200 miles aren't keen. But for most, I think it's a comfort blanket of the familiar. That's why we need to incentivise the transition. I'm not going to get into environmental arguments – that's a topic for another time – but governments feel the case is proven that EVs are better in terms of air quality, and they're the ones dictating the direction of travel. It's coming whether we like it or not. But people clearly need a little help to convince them to go electric. It's worked brilliantly for company cars, because the Benefit-in-Kind tax regime has made EVs such a financial open goal. But for private buyers? Not so much. Obviously, there's a question about whether we should be artificially boosting the EV market at all. If the tech is that good, why not give it time to be adopted organically rather than forced through? Humans are creatures of habit and, early adopters aside, tend to gravitate to what they know. Especially when there's scaremonger-fuelled fear that the regular journey you've managed in an ICE car for many years will suddenly become a problem-littered hell drive. Two things that would help would be to reduce the cost of public charging – easily achieved by cutting the rate of VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent on electricity (as it is at home) – and by coming up with ways to boost the used market. More used demand means values rise, leasing rates go down and more people can go for a new EV. Do you agree with Paul? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section...
Auto Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Auto Express
London congestion charge to rise by 20% as EV exemption chopped
Transport for London has revealed plans to increase the cost of the London congestion charge by 20 per cent and end the exemption for electric vehicles, with its new proposal set to kick in from 2 January. The current charge – £15 per day – has been in place since 2020, and TfL's suggested increase to £18 is, it said, below the rate of inflation over the past five years. The electric vehicle congestion charge exemption is also set to be culled, with EV drivers instead getting a 25 per cent discount on the new £18 charge, dropping to 12.5 per cent on 4 March 2030, if registered for the Auto Pay system. That will mean EV drivers going from the current exemption to £13.50 from the beginning of next year, and £15.75, if there are no further price rises, in March 2030. Advertisement - Article continues below TfL said the increase in the number of EVs being sold means maintaining the '100 per cent discount would lead to worsening traffic levels and congestion'. Electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles will be given a 50 per cent discount from next year, dropping to 25 per cent on 4 March 2030. 'It is timely to review whether a further increase is necessary in order to maintain the deterrent effect of the charge', said the TfL statement. 'This increase would help to maintain the traffic management effects of the Congestion Charge scheme in central London, support the other aims of the Mayor's Transport Strategy, and meet the Mayor's aims to improve air quality in London, achieve a net zero carbon city by 2030 and cut congestion in the capital.' In an attempt to promote policies on reducing private car use 'in favour of active, efficient and sustainable modes', only new applicants with electric vehicles will be eligible for a 90 per cent residents' discount from 1 March 2027. However, existing residents will retain their discounts, provided they renew their registration every year. The proposed changes are now subject to a 10-week consultation, closing on Monday 4 August. Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go… Find a car with the experts It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers? Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Family-friendly SUV is arguably Ford's best electric car, and great value, too. It's our Deal of the Day for 24 May
