The RAC and British Gas have joined forces in an attempt to make it easier and more affordable for drivers to make the switch to an electric car.
The new partnership means customers can have a smart 7kW home charge point installed by a British Gas engineer and take advantage of a bespoke electricity tariff with cheaper off-peak overnight charging.
They say having a home charge point on a competitively priced electricity tariff makes running an electric car much easier, cheaper and greener, by making use of excess renewable energy when demand is low overnight.
Customers who want to have a home charge point installed via the RAC have the choice of two models – with either fixed or removable cables – made by manufacturer Alfen. Both come with a three-year warranty and are installed by a British Gas trained EV installer. The Alfen Eve S-Line Untethered can be installed from £659 and Alfen Eve S-Line Tethered from £745.
The companies say both chargers can be controlled via a smartphone using the Hive app, which they explain makes charging more convenient as it not only allows drivers to see if the car is plugged in and charging, it also helps them save money as they can choose to schedule charges to take place overnight when the electricity rate is cheaper. They can also easily look back at their daily, weekly and yearly charging, to see the cost and their electricity usage.
They say the RAC-e Recharge Electric Car Tariff** saves customers money, with charging between 12-5am GMT costing just 6p per kWh, which could save £300 on a home electric bill. Users will need a smart meter for this to work.
“We’re very excited to have teamed up with British Gas to offer home charge points and a bespoke EV electricity tariff as they’re as synonymous with taking care of people’s energy needs as we are with fixing and rescuing cars,” said RAC director of EVs Sarah Winward-Kotecha. “Working with trusted names like British Gas and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions means customers can now – through the RAC – lease some of the most popular electric cars at market-leading prices and get a smart home charge point installed with a specialist energy tariff that offers cheaper off-peak EV charging.
“Combine all this with RAC EV breakdown cover, which is unrivalled in the roadside assistance market, and drivers now have everything they need to affordably switch to a zero-emission car with complete peace of mind.”
“Working in partnership with the RAC allows us to provide a unique proposition for those looking for hassle free motoring,” added Americo Lenza, portfolio director at British Gas. “For the first time, drivers can now combine the vehicle, the charger, the green energy, the servicing and the breakdown cover in one place. Supporting customers with cost effective ways to make the change to electric is vital as we transition away from petrol and diesel cars. Once you’ve switched, you’ll never go back.”
(Picture – RAC/British Gas)
