Latest news with #Ovo
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
True cost of driving 10 of UK's favourite Bank Holiday road trips & how to drive Lake District Loop for under £3
Electric vehicles can make scenic road trips more affordable as well as eco-friendly ON THE OPEN ROAD True cost of driving 10 of UK's favourite Bank Holiday road trips & how to drive Lake District Loop for under £3 NEW data reveals the significant savings UK drivers could enjoy by switching to an electric motor – with the cost of some of the country's best road trips being remarkably low in an EV. Experts at OVO have calculated that nine of the UK's top 10 most popular road trips cost under £3 in an EV. 4 The Peak District features rolling hills, quaint villages, and tranquil dales Credit: Getty 4 The breathtaking Lake District Loop passes serene lakes and charming towns on one of the UK's most scenic road trips Credit: Getty 4 Celebrate the May bank holiday with a sustainable road trip, combining breathtaking views with greener travel choices Credit: Getty 4 Drivers can enjoy the fun of exploring new destinations in an eco-friendly electric vehicle Credit: Getty Even long routes like the North Coast 500 come in £54 cheaper than petrol - when factoring in one home and one public charge. Ahead of the May bank holiday, many Brits are likely musing with the idea of a sunny spring road trip. In a recent survey, it comes as no surprise that the Lake District and Peak District claimed the top two spots on the list, while the breathtaking Jurassic Coast – stretching majestically from East Dorset to Devon – secured third place. Their data also found that Brits' top motivations for getting out on the open road were to soak up the surrounding scenery (40%), discovering parts of the UK not seen before (38%), and the desire to feel a sense of freedom and adventure (37%). Yet while 50% of drivers are planning to hit the roads for either a road trip or staycation, only a third (33%) of those will get behind the wheel of an electric or hybrid set of wheels . Indeed, the majority (63%) will drive gas-guzzling cars - which can cost substantially more. Ovo's findings are perhaps not as surprising as how motorists can save up to 88% on their travel costs by swapping to an EV, with charging at home on a cheaper EV rate a great way to save money. Top 10 scenic UK road trips and cost savings with an EV 1. Lake District Loop (150 miles) Highlights: Circles through the Lake District, passing key towns and lakes. Cost in an EV: From £2.63 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £23.18 2. Peak District Scenic Drive (60 miles) Highlights: A circular route through the Peak District, covering scenic dales and charming villages. Cost in an EV: From £1.05 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £9.27 3. Jurassic Coast Drive (95 miles) Highlights: Follows the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast from Exmouth to Swanage. Cost in an EV: From £1.66 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £14.68 4. Yorkshire Moors Coast Loop (130 miles) Highlights: A route along the rugged Yorkshire coast, including Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. Cost in an EV: From £2.28 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £20.09 5. The Cotswolds Circuit (102 miles) Highlights: A circular drive through picturesque Cotswold villages and rolling countryside. Cost in an EV: From £1.79 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £15.76 6. Snowdonia & North Wales Explorer (75 miles) Highlights: A loop through Snowdonia National Park, including Llanberis and Capel Curig. Cost in an EV: From £1.31 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £11.59 7. North Coast 500 (516 miles) Highlights: A breathtaking circular route through the Scottish Highlands and along the north coast. Cost in an EV: From £34.33 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £54.42 8. South Downs & Sussex Coast Loop (100 miles) Highlights: A scenic drive from Arundel to Eastbourne, following the South Downs and Sussex coastline. Cost in an EV: From £1.75 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £15.45 9. East Anglia Coastal Drive (120 miles) Highlights: A picturesque coastal route from Hunstanton to Southwold along the East Anglian coast. Cost in an EV: From £2.10 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £18.54 10. Causeway Coastal Route (120 miles) Highlights: A stunning drive from Belfast to Londonderry, featuring the Giant's Causeway. Cost in an EV: From £2.10 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £18.54 Alex Thwaites, Director of EV at OVO, said: 'The issues that plagued EV drivers five years ago are being tackled by improved tech and charging infrastructure. 'Public charger installations increased by 37% in the last year alone and you can travel up to 300 miles on a single EV charge now - more than double the amount of miles of the majority of the UK's favourite road trips. 'Last year my family took a road trip from Warwickshire to the beach town of Weston-Super-Mare, we stopped for a hot chocolate treat for the kids and a speedy 20 minute charge on the way home and that was it. Major parking change for ALL drivers in England 'A 250 mile round trip made simple, and more affordable, thanks to OVO's Charge Anywhere.' With OVO's Charge Anytime, you can smart charge your EV at home for just under 2p a mile. By combining that with OVO's Charge Anywhere, you can get discounted public charging and avoid wasted time at the curbside, as you'll see if a charger is available before you stop off.
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
True cost of driving 10 of UK's favourite Bank Holiday road trips & how to drive Lake District Loop for under £3
NEW data reveals the significant savings UK drivers could enjoy by switching to an electric motor – with the cost of some of the country's best road trips being remarkably low in an EV. Experts at Advertisement 4 The Peak District features rolling hills, quaint villages, and tranquil dales Credit: Getty 4 The breathtaking Lake District Loop passes serene lakes and charming towns on one of the UK's most scenic road trips Credit: Getty 4 Celebrate the May bank holiday with a sustainable road trip, combining breathtaking views with greener travel choices Credit: Getty 4 Drivers can enjoy the fun of exploring new destinations in an eco-friendly electric vehicle Credit: Getty Even long routes like the North Coast 500 come in £54 cheaper than petrol - when factoring in one home and one public charge. Ahead of the May bank holiday, many Brits are likely musing with the idea of a sunny spring road trip. In a recent survey, it comes as no surprise that the Lake District and Peak District claimed the top two spots on the list, while the breathtaking Jurassic Coast – stretching majestically from East Dorset to Devon – secured third place. Their data also found that Brits' top motivations for getting out on the open road were to soak up the surrounding scenery (40%), discovering parts of the UK not seen before (38%), and the desire to feel a sense of freedom and adventure (37%). Advertisement Read more Motors News Yet while 50% of drivers are planning to hit the roads for either a road trip or staycation, only a third (33%) of those will get behind the wheel of an electric or hybrid set of wheels . Indeed, the majority (63%) will drive gas-guzzling cars - which can cost substantially more. Ovo's findings are perhaps not as surprising as how motorists can save up to 88% on their travel costs by swapping to an EV, with charging at home on a cheaper EV rate a great way to save money. Top 10 scenic UK road trips and cost savings with an EV 1. Lake District Loop (150 miles) Highlights: Circles through the Lake District, passing key towns and lakes. Cost in an EV: From £2.63 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £23.18 2. Peak District Scenic Drive (60 miles) Highlights: A circular route through the Peak District, covering scenic dales and charming villages. Cost in an EV: From £1.05 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £9.27 3. Jurassic Coast Drive (95 miles) Highlights: Follows the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast from Exmouth to Swanage. Cost in an EV: From £1.66 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £14.68 4. Yorkshire Moors Coast Loop (130 miles) Highlights: A route along the rugged Yorkshire coast, including Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. Cost in an EV: From £2.28 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £20.09 5. The Cotswolds Circuit (102 miles) Highlights: A circular drive through picturesque Cotswold villages and rolling countryside. Cost in an EV: From £1.79 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £15.76 6. Snowdonia & North Wales Explorer (75 miles) Highlights: A loop through Snowdonia National Park, including Llanberis and Capel Curig. Cost in an EV: From £1.31 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £11.59 7. North Coast 500 (516 miles) Highlights: A breathtaking circular route through the Scottish Highlands and along the north coast. Cost in an EV: From £34.33 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £54.42 8. South Downs & Sussex Coast Loop (100 miles) Highlights: A scenic drive from Arundel to Eastbourne, following the South Downs and Sussex coastline. Cost in an EV: From £1.75 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £15.45 9. East Anglia Coastal Drive (120 miles) Highlights: A picturesque coastal route from Hunstanton to Southwold along the East Anglian coast. Cost in an EV: From £2.10 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £18.54 10. Causeway Coastal Route (120 miles) Highlights: A stunning drive from Belfast to Londonderry, featuring the Giant's Causeway. Cost in an EV: From £2.10 Savings vs Petrol: Up to £18.54 Alex Thwaites, Director of EV at OVO, said: 'The issues that plagued EV drivers five years ago are being tackled by improved tech and charging infrastructure. Advertisement Most read in Motors 'Public charger installations increased by 37% in the last year alone and you can travel up to 300 miles on a single EV charge now - more than double the amount of miles of the majority of the UK's favourite road trips. 'Last year my family took a road trip from Warwickshire to the beach town of Weston-Super-Mare, we stopped for a hot chocolate treat for the kids and a speedy 20 minute charge on the way home and that was it. Major parking change for ALL drivers in England 'A 250 mile round trip made simple, and more affordable, thanks to OVO's Charge Anywhere.' With Advertisement By combining that with OVO's Charge Anywhere, you can get discounted public charging and avoid wasted time at the curbside, as you'll see if a charger is available before you stop off.
Gulf News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Chitrangda Singh on partying in Dubai, her dream guest list and which Housefull 5 co-star is most fun at such epic bashes
'Dubai's often called the maximum city. Do you agree?' I ask Bollywood stunner Chitrangda Singh. She doesn't miss a beat. 'Absolutely! It has everything—world-class sports events, incredible music, fine dining, shopping, nightlife. It's one of the most complete cities in the world,' she declares with a grin that matches the city's dazzle. In town last weekend to sprinkle her signature glam at the opening of Ovo nightclub, Chitrangda sat down for a rapid-fire chat on all things parties, guilty pleasures, and why lemon shots are her secret weapon after a wild night out. You're known for rocking a saree like no one else. But tell me, what kind of party animal are you? Honestly, I'm not much of a party animal. I prefer house parties over clubbing. But if my friends are heading out, I love finding a cozy corner in a lounge like Ovo. It's not too loud—perfect for conversation. I feel you. After 40, don't we all just want to hear our friends talk? Exactly! There was a time for clubbing and bar hopping, but now it's all about meaningful conversations with your tribe. What's your go-to cure after a heavy night out? A good steam and sauna session, for sure. And lots of lemon shots—they really help! If you were to throw a party, who would be on your dream guest list—dead or alive? Oh wow… let's start with Marilyn Monroe—because then the men will follow! I'd love to have Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise too. Not ambitious at all, are we. But honestly, that's one party I'd love to crash! When you land in Dubai, what's the first thing you do? I usually hit the malls first, not going to lie. But I also love trying out the amazing restaurants here. Sometimes I've headed to Jebel Ali for the beach or the shooting range—it's a great mix of luxury and adventure. Let's talk about Housefull 5. I can't believe the franchise is back! Yes! It's bigger, crazier, and funnier. Everyone who's ever been in a Housefull movie is back, so expect madness. It's not just a comedy—it's a full-blown dhamaka [explosion]. Last one—who's the wildest party animal on the Housefull 5 set? Nargis is super fun—mad and full of energy. Among the guys, Akshay (Akki) is the life of the set. He's hilarious and always pulling pranks!
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Energy firm to give households two hours of free electricity every week from tomorrow
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR energy supplier is giving households two hours of free electricity every week during the summer. Ovo Energy is offering the free sessions from tomorrow and households can use the electricity for anything from running the dishwasher to meal prep. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Ovo is giving customers two hours of free electricity each week this summer Credit: Alamy The free electricity is available to customers who signed up to Ovo's free rewards programme, Ovo Beyond. The hours will be available from May 5 until August 31. Every week, customers can choose when to use their free electricity in a range of weekday and weekend time slots. These include: 9am - 10am on specified weekdays 1pm - 2pm on specified weekdays 9pm - 10pm on specified weekdays 10am - 12pm Sundays The sessions avoid peak hours to help reduce pressure on the grid. You will need to choose your time slot for the following week in a selection window. Customers simply need to sign up to the rewards through the Ovo app or their account. Gráinne Regan, head of Beyond at OVO, said: 'We launched Beyond to help lower bills and reward our customers for taking greener action. "So whether people choose to get ahead on meal prep, make a dent in the laundry or charge up the iPad, we want to help cut costs by giving two free hours of electricity every week this summer.' From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April What other schemes does Ovo offer? Ovo also has a Power Move scheme which rewards customers for reducing their electricity usage during peak hours, which are typically between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays. If you reduce your energy usage during these times below a certain percentage of your daily total then you are entered into a monthly draw for £2 to £2,000 worth of free electricity. Usually you need to cut your usage by 15%, so avoid putting on the washing machine or dishwasher during these hours. The energy firm is just one supplier that offers free energy sessions outside of off-peak hours. How do I calculate my energy bill? BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill. To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type. The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/ standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year - irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity. You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill. Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately. Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type - this will give you your usage costs. You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage - this will then give you your annual costs. Divide this figure by 12, and you'll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1. We have rounded up all of the schemes offered by other providers. British Gas PeakSave Sundays British Gas can get half price electricity every Sunday between 11am and 4pm through its PeakSave scheme. More than 650,000 customers have already signed up and have saved a total of £13million. If you ran two loads of laundry during the discounted PeakSave period instead of at other times, you could save up to £84 a year. Or you could save £17.42 a year by shifting your Sunday dishwasher cycle to during PeakSave hours. To sign up visit Scottish Power Power Saver Scottish Power's Power Saver scheme offers 50% off electricity between 11am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This gives customers a large window of opportunity to shift their energy consumption and maximise their savings. Again, doing two loads of washing to either of these windows during the weekend could save you £84 a year. Additionally, scheduling two weekend dishwasher cycles during this time could save you £35 a year. EDF Sunday Saver EDF's scheme encourages customers to move their electricity usage away from weekday peak hours (4pm to 7pm) in exchange for free electricity the following Sunday. You can qualify for up to 16 full hours of free electricity. Based on two loads of washing and drying plus one dishwasher cycle, you could save around £200 a year. But you need to carefully manage your electricity usage during the week in those peak hours to maximise your savings. Octopus Energy Octoplus Octopus Energy offers Octoplus members free electricity during times when the grid is at its greenest. When energy market prices drop, the supplier shares those savings with customers that have signed up in hour-long Free Electricity sessions. The slots typically occur between 1pm and 2pm during the summer months. Octopus Energy has hosted eight of these Free Electricity sessions since the scheme launched last August. As the cash is paid on an ad-hoc basis it can be difficult to plan when you will save. Meanwhile, many appliances, such as washing machines, take more than an hour to run, so it can be hard to make a worthwhile saving. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Energy firm to give households two hours of free electricity every week from tomorrow
A MAJOR energy supplier is giving households two hours of free electricity every week during the summer. Ovo Energy is offering the free sessions from tomorrow and households can use the electricity for anything from running the dishwasher to meal prep. 1 The free electricity is available to customers who signed up to Ovo's free rewards programme, Ovo Beyond. The hours will be available from May 5 until August 31. Every week, customers can choose when to use their free electricity in a range of weekday and weekend time slots. These include: 9am - 10am on specified weekdays 1pm - 2pm on specified weekdays 9pm - 10pm on specified weekdays 10am - 12pm Sundays The sessions avoid peak hours to help reduce pressure on the grid. You will need to choose your time slot for the following week in a selection window. Customers simply need to sign up to the rewards through the Ovo app or their account. Gráinne Regan, head of Beyond at OVO, said: 'We launched Beyond to help lower bills and reward our customers for taking greener action. "So whether people choose to get ahead on meal prep, make a dent in the laundry or charge up the iPad, we want to help cut costs by giving two free hours of electricity every week this summer.' From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April What other schemes does Ovo offer? Ovo also has a Power Move scheme which rewards customers for reducing their electricity usage during peak hours, which are typically between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays. If you reduce your energy usage during these times below a certain percentage of your daily total then you are entered into a monthly draw for £2 to £2,000 worth of free electricity. Usually you need to cut your usage by 15%, so avoid putting on the washing machine or dishwasher during these hours. The energy firm is just one supplier that offers free energy sessions outside of off-peak hours. How do I calculate my energy bill? BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill. To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type. The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/ standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year - irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity. You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill. Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately. Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type - this will give you your usage costs. You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage - this will then give you your annual costs. Divide this figure by 12, and you'll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1. We have rounded up all of the schemes offered by other providers. British Gas PeakSave Sundays British Gas can get half price electricity every Sunday between 11am and 4pm through its PeakSave scheme. More than 650,000 customers have already signed up and have saved a total of £13million. If you ran two loads of laundry during the discounted PeakSave period instead of at other times, you could save up to £84 a year. Or you could save £17.42 a year by shifting your Sunday dishwasher cycle to during PeakSave hours. To sign up visit Scottish Power Power Saver Scottish Power's Power Saver scheme offers 50% off electricity between 11am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This gives customers a large window of opportunity to shift their energy consumption and maximise their savings. Again, doing two loads of washing to either of these windows during the weekend could save you £84 a year. Additionally, scheduling two weekend dishwasher cycles during this time could save you £35 a year. EDF Sunday Saver EDF's scheme encourages customers to move their electricity usage away from weekday peak hours (4pm to 7pm) in exchange for free electricity the following Sunday. You can qualify for up to 16 full hours of free electricity. Based on two loads of washing and drying plus one dishwasher cycle, you could save around £200 a year. But you need to carefully manage your electricity usage during the week in those peak hours to maximise your savings. Octopus Energy Octoplus Octopus Energy offers Octoplus members free electricity during times when the grid is at its greenest. When energy market prices drop, the supplier shares those savings with customers that have signed up in hour-long Free Electricity sessions. The slots typically occur between 1pm and 2pm during the summer months. Octopus Energy has hosted eight of these Free Electricity sessions since the scheme launched last August. As the cash is paid on an ad-hoc basis it can be difficult to plan when you will save. Meanwhile, many appliances, such as washing machines, take more than an hour to run, so it can be hard to make a worthwhile saving. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@
