Electric vehicle owners could face a fresh concern in addition to range and charging locations in the future, with industry regulator Ofgem suggesting that it could cost more to charge their cars in peak times.
The proposed “flexible energy” measures would ensure less investment is needed in the UK’s electricity infrastructure.
Ofgem analysis suggests that if owners use ‘flexible charging’ (deliberately topping up outside of peak demand times, such as overnight) at least “60% more EVs could be charged up” compared with charging in peak periods. Proposed reforms would see incentives for customers “to charge their electric vehicles at the right time”.
A day in the life of an electric car charger
Customers could also be charged less when more renewable electricity is being generated through solar or wind farms. Cheaper rates would be offered through ‘time-of-use tariffs’ on smart meters when the electricity grid is in lower demand; currently, around 11 million UK households are on these tariffs.