British Gas is offering drivers the chance to benefit from a years’ worth of free electric vehicle charging under a new scheme.
The UK’s largest energy and home services company announced it would offer EV owners 8,000 miles of free home charging.
When purchasing one of its new Hive chargers, British Gas will provide drivers with free mileage.
The offer is available to new and existing British Gas electricity customers who have a smart meter as the company attempts to get people to switch to an EV.
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While the UK’s network of public electric vehicle charging points is steadily growing, many experts argue that the pace is not fast enough.
Because of this, many energy and car companies have called on drivers to get a charger installed at home or in the community.
It is hoped this will give drivers an additional incentive to make the transition to electric by removing fears about range anxiety and battery life.
Commenting on the new electric car charging offer, Gav Murray, Director of Hive at British Gas, said it would have a huge impact on drivers who are hesitant to switch.
He added: “We are on a mission to do all we can to make greener home solutions more affordable and accessible.
“As more electric vehicles hit the road, we want to make sure the right products are available for those who are able to make the switch and encourage as many people to do so as possible.”
Customers do not need a specific tariff and chargers can be ordered with or without installation by British Gas.
In the event that someone does not have a smart meter, British Gas will also install one for free.
To make use of the benefits, drivers will be reimbursed by British Gas for electricity used in FreeCharge mode, which can be activated in the Hive app.
Gav Murray continued, saying: “Electric vehicle uptake is a key part of the UK’s drive to net zero.
“Our FreeCharge proposition not only supports this uptake but, by shifting charging to when demand on the grid is at its lowest, we’re accelerating the journey towards a greener future.”
New data has found that almost four in five motorists say they are willing to make changes in their own homes to tackle climate change.
More than one in three (35 per cent) said they would install a home charger to power an electric vehicle.
Zapmap estimates that there are around 680,000 charge points installed at homes or workplaces around the UK.
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This number will continue to grow as the charging network follows suit. As of October 2023, there are 51,516 EV charging devices across more than 30,000 locations.
