More than half (54%) of people plan to make the switch to an electric car in the next five years, but there is still widespread confusion and concern about the cheapest and most efficient ways to charge them.

New research from home smart charging brand Hive, part of Centrica, finds that whilst 58% would consider a home charger, major misconceptions are still common.

Over a quarter (27%) of people incorrectly think home charging would be more expensive than public charging. When asked how much they thought it would cost to fully charge an average electric estate car with a home charger, respondents estimated around £21. In reality, the average cost is £7.50, according to Hive estimates; a stark contrast to current fuel costs, that average out at £1.86 per litre.

Most people (71%) are also unaware that a home charger can be linked to their energy provider, showing the need for clear information in this area.

And although there is a clear demand for home chargers, there’s a lack of understanding around the installation process. Over three-quarters (76%) are in the dark about what makes a home eligible for a home charger and 36% are worried they would need to make significant changes in order to have one installed, when they just need to own their own property and have a driveway.

To support customers, Hive SmartCharge Saver, a brand-new tariff add-on supplied by British Gas and powered by Hive, is being trialled by 100 customers this week. It’s an add-on that works with Hive EV charging and any British Gas tariff, using intelligent scheduling to charge a customer’s EV at the cheapest, and greenest time of the day. All the customer needs to do is tell Hive, via the app, when they need their car to be charged by and Hive will do the rest.

Customers will get a discount of 2p per kWh whenever their EV is plugged in continuously for six hours and 7p per kWh if the car is plugged in for longer, equating to a max saving of £2.10 per full charge for a 30kWh battery and up to £4.20 saving for a 60kWh battery.

Hive also guides customers through the EV charger process, from start to finish with an installation from an expert British Gas engineer and 24/7 support available on demand. The Hive EV Charger can be controlled via the Hive app enabling customers to charge their car from wherever they are and keep track of their expenditure.

Henry Duff, head of net Zero at Hive, said: “As a responsible, trusted supplier, it’s our job to ensure our customers are on the most energy and cost-efficient rates and this new add-on aims to do just that helping customers save money on running an electric car. We understand the move to electric cars can be daunting, so we want to make the transition as simple as possible for those where home charging is an option.”