British Gas launches off-peak EV charging tariff

British Gas has launched a tariff for electric vehicle users, offering cheaper electricity at night to charge their car.   

The Green Drive tariff matches the electricity used with renewable energy and the gas carbon footprint offset with Certified Emissions Reduction Certificates.

Peter Simon, Customer Propositions and Product Director at British Gas said: “Customers who choose this tariff will have peace of mind that if they charge their electric car overnight they can take advantage of lower prices. We want to offer our customers different types of tariffs that suit their individual needs and help them understand their energy usage.

“This is our first residential EV product. Over the coming months, we will launch further electric vehicle charging services to both residential and business customers.”

The smart tariff is for charging between 12.30am and 7.30am. It is dual fuel, fixed until November 2020 and has no exit fees. The average annual bill of £1547 is based on an average electric vehicle user consuming an additional 2340kWh of electricity per year by charging their car.

Tariff users can use their car dashboard or car manufacturer’s app to schedule their EV charges during the cheaper night time hours, and can get a free smart meter upgrade to keep an eye on spending.