The constant story of the moment lately seems to be centered on the rising cost of living.
Fuel prices, food and drink, utility bills -- everything is headed north.
But amongst all the doom and gloom, there’s a glimmer of hope.
During these periods of economic challenges, it’s reassuring to know that EV vehicle running costs are considerably less than driving a car with an internal combustion engine.
Even better, it’s pretty simple to reduce EV charging costs to near zero, so read on to find out how.
1. Share Your Home Charger
Over the past few years, the concept of community charging has gained in popularity, with the emergence of car charging apps specifically created for this purpose.
The idea is quite simple.
If you own a home EV chargepoint, you hire it out to other EV owners in return for a fixed amount per hour used.
By providing fellow EV drivers a place to park and charge, you’re not only assisting to close the gaps in public charging infrastructure, you’re also bringing in additional income.
This will unquestionably cover the costs of any energy used, plus some extra on top.
2. Fit Solar Panels at Home
Whilst solar panels do require a sizable initial outlay, over time they’ll repay themselves and then some.
Most modern home EV charger models use intelligent technology to get the utmost free energy from renewable sources like solar, meaning every time you replenish your car battery, it costs you nothing!
Also, if you decide to start charger sharing with other EV drivers for a fee, that income is all profit!
3. Stick to Free Public Chargers
Most EV drivers are unaware there’s a significant number of public locations to top up your car for nothing.
Presently, there’s said to be around 5,000 free public EV charge-points in the country alone.
That amounts to around 15% of all public EV charge-points.
So there’s plenty to go round.
Next time you’re traveling, have a look at some of the chargepoint costs in places like grocery stores and big brand outlets.
Many are free of charge. So during your errands, you can top up your battery.
4. Stay Away From Rapid Charging
Whilst rapid charging may seem convenient, occasionally it can be pretty costly.
With energy fees now soaring, the majority of public charging networks have raised their costs, some by as much as 20% since the fall of 2021.
So what was once a convenient way to top up and go, has now become very costly in comparison to home charging.
The general rule is, the less time it requires to charge your vehicle, the more it costs, mainly on highways and motorways.
Ionity charger for example, operates some of the speediest rapid chargers in the nation (up to 350kW).
But their fees are quite high, costing around £0.69p per kilowatt hour (kWh).
On the opposite, Connected Kerb, which has slower on-street chargers, costs close to half that at £0.35p per kilowatt hour.
So if you’re not in a hurry, consider using some of the slower rate public charging suppliers instead.
5. Drive Mellow
If you have a heavy right foot, now might be the moment to just ease off the accelerator a bit and chill.
Just like gasoline or diesel engined vehicles, the more aggressive you drive, the more you churn through energy.
Most current EV’s have integrated KERS (Kinetic energy recovery system) technology, so by easing off now and then, you can maximise the battery.
Cruising when approaching junctions, lifting off to gradually reduce speed instead of heavy braking, and generally driving at a more laid back pace will give you far more range.
And if your car benefits from an ‘Eco’ mode, use it.
This will enhance range by throttling the available power, and optimise electric consumption.
Also, disable the climate control if natural temperatures don’t determine it.
Whether your EV needs to produce heat or cold air, this all demands power from the battery.
So if it’s a hot day, open the window a bit. If it’s slightly chillier than usual, wear an extra layer or two.
Summary
With energy costs increasing and not looking to come down any time in the future, we all need to find ways to maximise EV battery range and reduce running costs.
By following some of the ideas in this article, you’ll unquestionably lower your EV charging expenses and in some circumstances, may even make additional income as well.
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