- The new FreeCharge scheme from British Gas offers 8,000 free charging miles
- The deal does not have set hours for free charging, which may deter some
British Gas is offering electric vehicle owners a year’s worth of free charging, provided they buy a Hive charger first.
Britain’s largest energy firm said the deal would allow up to 8,000 miles of charging time, or 2,290kWh of electricity, based on getting efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh.
The new offer adds to a growing list of specialist EV energy deals offering cheaper prices for charging cars.
The Hive EV charger costs from £939 to be installed by a British Gas engineer.
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The FreeCharge offer does not require a new energy tariff, but homes taking part will need a smart meter, which British Gas can fit for free.
It is open to new and existing British Gas energy customers, with 5,000 allowed to take part.
The offer can be activated using the Hive app, and British Gas then pays customers the following month for electricity used to charge an EV, up to the 8,000 limit.
Charging works by using British Gas’ technology to schedule charging, usually overnight, when electricity demand is quietest.
But how much practical use EV owners will get out of the FreeCharge deal depends on their energy deal.
Customers with a standard tariff, with one rate for electricity regardless of time, may get free charging at any point, day or night, but typically overnight.
If you have a British Gas energy deal with cheaper electricity overnight, your EV will charge in the nighttime is you have the FreeCharge offer.
As a result, British Gas said it could not ‘guarantee that your EV’s battery will be fully charged from a single charging session in FreeCharge mode’.
British Gas director of Hive Gav Murray said: ‘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.’
