Aftermarket July/August 2022 Issue

JULY/AUGUST 2022 AFTERMARKET 63 www.aftermarketonline.net stations, while charging an electric car. Commenting on the survey, Halo Insurance Services and InsuretheGap Chief Operating Officer Ben Wooltorton said: “We still have a mountain to climb in the UK to encourage large-scale adoption of electric vehicles. People seem put off by the cost, and sceptical about their financial advantage in the long term. We also know that the government will need to recoup the loss of income when the current system of charging heavily polluting vehicles declines, but we don’t know yet how they plan to do this.” He added: “It’s no surprise to hear, therefore, that electric car owners might fear that their card’s marked for additional expense in the future.” Get smart: EV drivers need to charge off-peak 46% of EV drivers are not using cheaper, off-peak charging, according to a recent survey, potentially negating the cost savings offered by electric vehicle technology. With all EV chargers sold after 30 June legally required to have smart functionality, Smart Home Charge, the company that performed the survey is suggesting that drivers need further education on how to charge their vehicles at the lowest possible cost. Danny Morgan, Editor and Marketing Manager at Smart Home Charge said: “Educating new EV drivers is key to helping them save on their car charging costs. Traditionally, drivers have not had much choice when it comes to fuel costs other than searching for which petrol station has the lowest price, and even then, the difference is pennies. “However, EV drivers have much more control over the cost of their home EV charging, firstly by finding an energy supplier which offers an EV-friendly tariff with off-peak rates and secondly by making sure they set up a schedule on their smart home charge point that coincides with their off-peak window.” The company has worked out that by using EDF’s GoElectric 35 tariff, a Nissan Leaf can be charged on the peak day rate of 45p per kWh for around £18 for a single charge. However, using the off-peak rate of 4.5p per kWh, the same charge would only cost £1.80. On 10,000 mile-a-year basis, peak rate-only charging would cost £1,071 versus £107 when using off-peak-only charging. This would save the driver £964 over the course of a year. Danny added: “While drivers cannot ultimately control wholesale electricity prices, they can make sure they are charging their cars on the lowest rate possible by using the Smart Home Charge EV energy tariff comparison tool.” For more information, visit: www.smarthomecharge.co.uk/guides/energy-tariffs- how-to-keep-ev-charging-costs-low The meaning of life? 42% of drivers look to go electric next time 42% of car owners said in a recent survey that increasing fuel costs mean that they are likely to opt for an EV when they next buy a car. The research was performed by used car buying service ChooseMyCar.com, and 2,000 motorists were asked what factors were likely to influence their buying decisions. Looking at the gender split, 46% of males said that next car would absolutely be an EV, while only 38% of females said the same thing. 66% of drivers aged 18-34 were on board with EVs next time, while for those aged 35- 54 it was 49%. For Over 55s, it was just 20% who would be buying and EV. 60% of London taxi drivers questioned said an EV would be their next vehicle purchase, followed by Brighton’s cabbies on 48%, Edinburg’s with 44%, and Birmingham’s and Liverpool’s with 43% The denizens of Bristol and Plymouth were least likely to buy an EV, with just 15% saying they would buy electric next. Commenting on the findings, ChooseMyCar.com founder Nick Zapolski said: “We have been doing a lot of research on how UK drivers have been affected by recent events, and the younger age group appears to have been the one that has found it hardest to manage the spiralling prices.” Nick added: “While EVs are obviously a good choice for many, with the starting price still being close to five figures, many will struggle to afford a new EV and the second-hand market is still very limited. It seems very unfair that the very people that need EVs the most, and who have the strongest desire for one, might be priced out of the market.” www.aftermarketonline.net We still have a mountain to climb in the UK to encourage large- scale adoption of electric vehicles ”