As more energy industry observers warn of dramatic increases in energy prices this winter, EV drivers should future-proof their motoring costs by ensuring they’re on the best possible smart charging tariffs at home, according to Ohme.

The rise in wholesale energy prices could see EV drivers’ running costs rise dramatically but a smart charger on a smart tariff can help shield them

It points to the major savings enjoyed by EV drivers up until now compared to petrol or diesel cars. But industry experts are now predicting wholesale prices to more than double this winter, raising the Standard Variable Tariff set by Ofgem to around 60 pence per kWh (up from the current 28p/kWh).

Drivers of electric vehicles will be hit especially hard by this increase as it could see their running costs rise dramatically. However, EV drivers can protect themselves from the worst of the forthcoming rises by charging their car using a smart charger alongside a discounted off-peak tariff offered by numerous energy suppliers.

Its calculations reveal that when charging an electric vehicle on an off-peak tariff, EV drivers can still enjoy the benefits of low running costs that are the equivalent of just 1.9 pence per mile with the likes of Octopus Intelligent at 7.5p/kWh. That means a typical UK driver’s annual mileage of 6800 miles in an average EV could cost just £127.50.

By comparison, at the current Standard Variable Tariff of 28p/kWh, that same annual mileage would cost a driver £476. If, as predicted, that standard electricity tariff rises to 60p/kWh, those same 6,800 miles would cost an EV driver £1020 – eight times more than on an off-peak tariff.

Ohme CEO David Watson warned: “It’s great that so many drivers have made the switch to an electric vehicle, but if they’re not already on an off-peak tariff, those drivers need to quickly review their options to protect themselves from these future wholesale price rise. Our advice at Ohme is to speak to your existing electricity supplier and see if they offer an off-peak tariff such as Octopus or OVO Energy. If they don’t, then look at switching suppliers to one that does so that you can off-set the impacts of these significant price increases that experts are predicting.”

Ohme’s Home Pro smart charger can connect with the national grid in real time and automatically adjust its charging for drivers to take advantage of all the times of low-price charging with smart off-peak tariffs. Ohme also offers drivers the option to charge their car when renewable energy generation on the National Grid is at its highest, further lowering their CO2 impact.