The Hive app just got even better with the addition of a new feature.
Hive SmartCharge Saver, the new EV charging tariff, is currently being tested by 100 customers. With it, you’ll get discounts on your energy prices so you can charge your EV for less than ever before. EV drivers could benefit from that even more with the looming cost of living crisis.
The new Hive SmartCharge Saver feature charges your electric vehicle at the cheapest, greenest time of day based on intelligent scheduling. All you have to do is tell the Hive app when you need the vehicle ready and it will take care of the scheduling for you.
It is backed by British Gas, and if you plug your EV in continuously for six hours, you’ll get a 2p per kWH discount, increasing to 7p per kWH if you keep it connected longer. On a 30kWH battery, the maximum saving is £2.10, and on a 60kWH battery, it is £4.20.
An average cost of £7.50 is based on charging a Vauxhall Mokka-e with a 50kWh battery delivering 209 miles of range at average EV-friendly electric rates of 15p per kWh off-peak and 40.2p peak.
How does Hive define the “greenest” time of day? SmartCharge schedules your charging for the time when the grid is least busy. At those times, it’s more likely to use renewable energy such as wind or solar; at times of higher demand, it’s more likely to use fossil fuels. EV charging is automatically scheduled to avoid those periods, reducing the carbon footprint.
Hive emphasizes there is a clear demand for home chargers, but there is a lack of understanding about installation. There are over three-quarters of respondents who don’t know what makes a home eligible for a home charger, and 36% are concerned they’d have to make significant changes when they just need a driveway and a property.
The electric car is beyond my means for now, but the greenest possible infrastructure for electric vehicles is in everyone’s interest, and with Hive planning to include solar panels and “virtual power plants that link you up with other electric car owners”, it will be interesting to see what else comes out in the electric car space in the future.
Visit hivehome.com to learn more about Hive’s EV tariffs.
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