New plans could let EV drivers pay home energy tariffs at public chargers
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Drivers without home chargers could get access to cheaper public EV charging under a proposal to let them pay their home electricity tariff at selected charge points.
Electric car drivers who cannot charge at home could benefit from cheaper public charging under new plans that could see them pay their home electricity tariff at selected charge points.
The proposal comes amid the Autumn Budget, with an independent review by energy expert Philip New setting out ways to make electric motoring more affordable.
A government taskforce will look into whether drivers can use their domestic electricity rate at public chargers, potentially narrowing the cost gap between charging at home and using the public network.
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Who could benefit from this?
The new proposal could particularly benefit people living in flats or houses without driveways, who often have little choice but to rely on public charging networks.
Drivers who charge at home can typically pay less per mile than those who depend on public chargers. The review estimates home charging costs around 8p-12p per mile, compared with around 17p-20p per mile for a mix of public charging.
Allowing drivers to access their domestic electricity tariff at public charge points can help reduce that difference.
How would home-rate public charging work?
The review suggests drivers could pay an annual fee of around £200 to help cover maintenance costs. This is comparable to the annual cost of installing a home charger.
Access could initially be restricted to residents in local parking permit zones, potentially giving people without private parking a way to benefit from cheaper electricity rates.
Making the system work would require energy suppliers and public charging operators to coordinate tariffs and payments. The proposal would also need a way to identify eligible drivers and apply the correct domestic rate when they charge away from home.
However, the government has not confirmed how the scheme would operate, who would qualify or which charging networks might take part.
When could drivers pay home electricity rates at public chargers?
There’s no confirmed launch date for the proposal, so don’t assume you’ll be able to use your home tariff at public charge points.
The idea is one of several recommendations in the independent review aimed at making public charging cheaper. The government has also committed £100m to support more affordable local charging.
For now, the home-tariff proposal remains under consideration.
Carwow has approached the Department of Transport and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles for comments.
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