LV General Insurance is now offering a new roadside charging service to come to the rescue of its electric vehicle customers who have run out of charge.

The new service will provide 30 minutes’ free charge for LV GI electric vehicle customers who run out of charge

The insurer already offers an ‘out of charge recovery’ facility as standard as part of its electric vehicle insurance policy that launched spring 2019, but this has previously necessitated transporting drivers and cars to the nearest charging unit.

The new service now being piloted sees the firm team up with AFF, a roadside assistance company that already offers misfuelling services to LV GI customers, to go one step further.

A total of 10 AFF recharge vans will be situated across England and Wales, providing 30 minutes’ free charge for electric vehicle customers who run out of charge; enough to enable them to continue their journey and get to a charging point.

Tom Clarke, head of electric vehicle strategy at LV= GI, said: “We already cater for EV drivers who run out of charge by taking them to the nearest charge point, but this partnership with AFF means we can increase the level of support and value we provide to our customers. We would always advise EV drivers make sure their car is charged properly and regularly, especially if they’re going on long journeys, but as drivers still run out petrol the same is true for EV drivers and customers now have the security that an AFF recharge van get to them if they’re stranded on the motorway.”

AFF added that the project would help motorists with the decision whether to switch to an EV, particularly addressing range anxiety concerns.

The AFF vans have been equipped with a 7.2kw charging unit, as well as 10m cabling that can be used at the roadside, including on motorways, in line with best practice breakdown and recovery guidelines.

The vans are also equipped to still carry out fuel drain work for customers who have misfuelled.