EDF trials smart charging tariff for EV owners

EDF have announced the trial of an innovative new electric vehicle tariff which automates smart charging of EVs when energy prices are low.

Users of the EV OptiCharge tariff will be able to enter their charging preferences on a dedicated platform, indicating, for example, the level of charge they require in the vehicle and the time by which they would like it to be charged. 

The car will then be charged overnight when the tariff offers cheaper energy, with the added benefit of relieving pressure on the grid.

The benefits of using an energy tariff designed specifically for EV owners is highlighted in a recent Money Saving Expert article, which revealed that charging a Nissan Leaf once a week – during periods when energy is cheap – would cost less than £3 per week (£138/year) on the cheapest EV tariff. Charging the same car on a standard variable tariff would cost around £8.50 per week (£442/year).

Around 300 EDF customers who meet eligibility criteria, will take part in the trial which will go live this month and run until February next year.

The trial has been created and developed by EDF’s Research and Development and Customer teams and is part of the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s Alternative Energy Markets Innovation Programme. It is backed by £1.3m of funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

Data from the trial will be analysed by EDF to see the impact on customer bills and their usage. Loughborough University and the University of Sheffield will conduct qualitative and quantitative studies to provide insight into the tariff’s feasibility for optimising customer’s EV charging.

Philippe Commaret, Managing Director of Customers at EDF, said: ‘This trial is a brilliant example of the type of innovative solutions we’re exploring to help our customers to save cash and carbon.

‘As an industry we must find ways to embed flexibility into the electricity system to reduce pressure on the grid and customers’ pockets. Trialling new tariffs such as OptiCharge will be vital if we are to help Britain achieve our net zero ambitions.’