Time you ditched petrol? 'Affordable' electric car update may convince you to switch

Millions of UK motorists still seem unconvinced about switching to electric cars (EVs). The price, charging infrastructure and range are still major sticking points, but a new update may finally give drivers a big incentive to switch to battery power and ditch fuel for good. The charging team at Ohme have confirmed they've joined forces with energy supplier E.ON to offer a much cheaper way to refill at home.

The new E.ON Next EV tariff offers a 6.7p/kWh rate between 12am and 7am every day. At that low price, a small family car can be fully refilled for as little £3.29, making it vastly cheaper than topping up at a petrol station.

You might be thinking that unless you do night shifts there's no easy way to take advantage of this early morning refilling but that's where the Ohme technology kicks in.

Those with one of these intelligent chargers installed can plug in when they get home, but tell the device not to start boosting the battery until midnight - that way, owners always get the lower-cost filling.

"Ohme is committed to bringing affordable home charging to as many EV drivers as possible by connecting them with the UK's best electricity tariffs," said David Watson, Ohme CEO.

"This customer offer with E.ON Next is a great step to helping EV drivers access the best tariffs and the best rates on the market."

Other providers, such as Octopus, also offer cheaper EV rates at night and they are certainly a good way of cutting down the bills.

Of course, you will need a driveway, and you have to install the Ohme charger, which costs around £1,000.

Some EV tariffs also charge slightly more for energy used during the day, so it's always worth checking to make sure you will actually save money in the long term.

If you do a lot of driving and head to the pump at least once a week, it shouldn't take too long for a special electric car rate to become worthwhile.

To make things sound a little more enticing, existing Ohme customers who switch to E.ON Next will receive a £75 credit on their energy account.

"Ohme is a progressive EV charging company and our Next Drive tariff offer will help more customers to unlock smarter and cheaper overnight charging, so we're delighted to be working with them," said Jean Coleman, Commercial Director, E.ON Next.

"We want to make the switch to electric easy and accessible for all, helping to ensure that no driver is left behind in the e-mobility transition."

Express.co.uk recently tested the Ohme home charger. If you want to know how we got on you can read our full Ohme Home Pro review here.