RAC and British Gas team up on home electric vehicle charger installation
The RAC and British Gas have joined forces to install electric vehicle chargers and to offer customers a specialist electricity tariff.
The new partnership means customers can have a smart 7kW home charge point installed by a British Gas engineer and take advantage of a bespoke electricity tariff with cheaper off-peak overnight charging.
According to the two firms, the move is designed to make it easier and more affordable for drivers to make the switch to an electric car.
Customers who want to have a home charge point installed via the RAC have the choice of two models – with either fixed or removable cables – made by manufacturers of electric car chargers, Alfen. Both come with a three-year warranty and are installed by a British Gas trained EV installer. The Alfen Eve S-Line Untethered can be installed from £659 and Alfen Eve S-Line Tethered from £745.
The RAC-e Recharge Electric Car Tariff will also aim to save customers money, with charging between 12-5am GMT costing 6p per kWh. Charging can also be scheduled via the Hive app, and British Gas will match 100% of the electricity used for this tariff to electricity from renewable sources.
The move also follows RAC’s partnership with leasing specialist Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions to give drivers the chance to lease a variety of popular EVs at very affordable rates.
RAC director of EVs Sarah Winward-Kotecha said: “We’re very excited to have teamed up with British Gas to offer home charge points and a bespoke EV electricity tariff as they’re as synonymous with taking care of people’s energy needs as we are with fixing and rescuing cars.
“Working with trusted names like British Gas and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions means customers can now – through the RAC – lease some of the most popular electric cars at market-leading prices and get a smart home charge point installed with a specialist energy tariff that offers cheaper off-peak EV charging.
“Combine all this with RAC EV breakdown cover, which is unrivalled in the roadside assistance market, and drivers now have everything they need to affordably switch to a zero-emission car with complete peace of mind.”
Americo Lenza, portfolio director at British Gas, said: “Working in partnership with the RAC allows us to provide a unique proposition for those looking for hassle free motoring. For the first time, drivers can now combine the vehicle, the charger, the green energy, the servicing and the breakdown cover in one place. Supporting customers with cost effective ways to make the change to electric is vital as we transition away from petrol and diesel cars. Once you’ve switched, you’ll never go back.”
In order to take advantage of the RAC-e Tariff, which has no exit fee, customers will need to have a British Gas electric smart meter installed so their off-peak charging can be tracked. If a property doesn’t have an existing British Gas smart meter, one will be fitted free of charge.
