New off-peak charging tariffs could save EV drivers hundreds

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers without access to off-street parking are soon set to benefit from new off-peak charging which could save them over £238 this year.  

Off-peak tariffs have been brought in by a range of British charging operators to encourage drivers to charge at certain times of day – usually overnight.  

Analysis by EV charging app Bonnet used data from its partners GeniePoint and Char.gy, who have both introduced variable rates, to discover how much this could save drivers over time.  

They found that off-peak charging could save drivers 55% and 24% respectively on overnight charging, increasing the benefits for those who don’t have a driveway.  

These new variable rates could provide another incentive to drivers considering the switch to electric, as the EV market is steadily on the rise, according to recent data.  

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced yesterday that EVs are now the second most popular type of car in the UK, with the market growing by 40.1% compared to 2021.  

Char.gy, which has 1,350 lamppost and bollard charging points, now offers rates of 29p per kWh between midnight and 7am, 34p less than the daytime rate. This equates to saving an average of £9.17 per charge, or £238.42 for charging 26 times over 12 months.  

GeniePoint, which has over 900 chargers across the country, with off-peak charging costing 57p per kWh starting from 8pm to 8am on the GenieFlex tariff. Based on 26 charges over 12 months this could save users £104 in total.  

EV drivers could save even more by using Bonnet’s Light Boost and Turbo Boost packages which could increase savings by 10-15%.  

Patrick Reich, CEO and cofounder of Bonnet, said: ‘Bonnet is committed to making EV charging as accessible and affordable as possible, so we’re delighted to find that, through innovative off-peak tariffs our partners are leading, drivers will be able to save hundreds of pounds each year.  

‘We’re always keen to crunch the numbers and let our users know where they can get the best deals. Alongside Bonnet’s boost scheme, which discounts rates across all our chargers, these new variable rates offer serious savings for electric drivers.’  

Photo by Michael Fousert