Peak-time charges will rise for electric car drivers, says Ofgem

DRIVERS of electric cars will soon be charged more to power-up their vehicles at peak times, energy watchdogs have admitted.

Yesterday Ofgem announced proposals to encourage millions of drivers to charge their cars at night when energy is cheaper due to lower demand.

Under the plans, new “flexible” car chargers will hook up to households’ smart meters and only charge vehicles during quiet times of day when electricity is cheapest.

Drivers who need to power their vehicles during busy times will be charged extra for the privilege.

The past four years have seen a remarkable surge in demand for electric vehicles in the UK – new registrations of plug-in cars increased from 3,500 in 2013 to more than 160,000 by July 2018, with electric models expected to become mainstream in a few years. It is not yet known how the extra charge will be calculated or levied, but it could see households being hit by energy “surge pricing”, which would involve them paying more at busy times.

According to Ofgem analysis published today, if owners use “flexible” charging – topping up only outside peak demand times – at least 60 per cent more vehicles could be charged compared to the current model.

This allows electric vehicles to be charged when wind and solar power are generating lots of electricity, or when there is less demand across the system. Ofgem claims that flexible charging will also help to keep energy costs down for all consumers as technology allows stored electricity from vehicle batteries to be sent back to the grid when it is needed.

“Households will have a choice. They could save money by charging off-peak using the smart charger, but if they want to charge during peak times they will pay more,” said a spokesman for Ofgem.

♦ Stagecoach has announced plans to build Britain’s first full-sized driverless coach. The bus will be used without a driver in depots for manoeuvres such as parking, fuelling and washing.

The company, which has joined Alexander Dennis Limited, a coach manufacturer, and Fusion Processing, a tech company, in the venture, said legal restrictions prevent the vehicle being used on a driverless basis when passengers are on board.

The technology is expected to be used in buses and coaches more widely in the future.