If you’re one of the lucky ones who own an electric car, there’s a good chance you’ve spent more time researching the price and range of different models than how much electricity your charge would use up.
And while you may be able to save some dosh by switching from petrol to power socket, we’re here to help you get the best bang for your buck from your power provider by shining some light onto dedicated electric vehicle (EV) tariffs. Find out which provider are offering what below.
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How much will it cost to charge my electric car?
We won’t spend much time on this since we’ve already done the math, but electric cars on average will cost significantly less than purchasing petrol. Rather than being charged per litre, you’ll be paying per kilowatt hour (kWh) for however much electricity you use. In Canstar Blue’s previous estimates, it’s been found that in some cases, you might only pay a quarter to a third of what you were on petrol to a full charge on your EV. On a dedicated electric car plan, this could work out to be even less.
Does every electricity provider offer a plan for electric car owners?
Unfortunately, no. Currently, Australians have just only a few electric car plans to choose from that provide an added benefit for EV drivers. Keep in mind to check the rates attached to these plans before you sign up.
Red Energy EV Saver Plan
Red Energy is offering electric vehicle customers in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and ACT the ‘Red EV Saver’ plan, which comes with free electricity usage charges between 12pm and 2pm every Saturday and Sunday. EV owners will need to have a smart or interval meter and sign up online to be eligible. There is no contract term or exit fees and Red Energy has a ‘renewable matching promise’ where for every unit of electricity you buy from them, Snowy Hydro Limited will match it by generating one unit of electricity from a renewable source.
Here is Red Energy’s Electric Vehicle Plan on our database that includes a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here is Red Energy’s Electric Vehicle Plan on our database that includes a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here is Red Energy’s Electric Vehicle Plan on our database that includes a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here is Red Energy’s Electric Vehicle Plan on our database that includes a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
OVO Energy The EV Plan
In New South Wales, south-east Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, OVO Energy offers a dedicated electricity plan for EV owners called ‘The EV Plan’. This plan provides customers with free electricity use between 11am and 2pm daily, plus a cheaper electricity rate between the hours of midnight and 6am to help reduce the cost of charging their electric car. Please note, while customers must own a smart meter in order to access this plan, households can remain on a single rate tariff on certain distribution networks in NSW, VIC, QLD and SA.
Here are the OVO Energy EV plans on our database for Victoria. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the OVO Energy EV plans on our database for SEQ. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the OVO Energy EV plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Simply Energy “Simply Electric Vehicle” Energy Plan
EV owners in Victoria can get a super off-peak discount of 6c/kWh for charging their EV between 12am and 6am with Simply Energy’s EV plan. There are no lock-in contracts or exit fees. To sweeten the deal, Simply Energy is rewarding their customers with bonus charging, applied as a $200 credit to their account once they’ve transferred over to the Simply EV offer.
To be eligible, you must have an electric car and a smart meter either already installed or be willing to install one.
Powershop Super Off-Peak Tariff
In Victoria, NSW, QLD and SA, Powershop is offering a ‘super off-peak tariff’ for those who own an electric vehicle. In order to be eligible, customers must own a smart meter and move to a time of use tariff, meaning usage charges vary depending on the time of day power is used.
With the ‘super off peak’ tariff, customers will pay a significantly reduced usage rate between the hours of 12am and 4am on weekdays – ideal for those who charge their electric vehicles overnight. This tariff is available through Powershop’s 100% Carbon Neutral – Electric Vehicle plan.
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Should I switch to an electric car plan?
Switching to a dedicated plan for electric cars definitely comes with its benefits. From cheaper tariffs at certain times, to inflated bill credits, it all seems too good to be true. With Powershop and OVO Energy for example, you’ll have to stay on top of what time you charge your car to get maximum benefit.
Keep in mind that, if you have an electric vehicle, you don’t necessarily need to sign up to an EV-specific power plan. Talk to your retailer about what the best option might be for your home because finding the best deal could come down to your individual circumstances. For example, you might not want to sign up to a time of use tariff just for the benefit of charging your car overnight if you’re going to end up paying higher prices than you need to for your general energy usage during the day.
Image credit: Smile Fight/shutterstock.com, Osman Vector/shutterstock.com, Powershop website, OVO Energy website.
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