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Electric vehicle owners could be in for a treat with an enticing home charging deal that promises around 12,000 miles of free motoring. EDF Energy has rolled out an offer that hands over
£300 to customers – whether they're new or existing ones – when they pair up EDF's Pod Point Plug & Power home charger with its energy tariff. . The energy provider estimates
this £300 credit to translate to about 12,000 miles worth of electric driving, equating to almost two years' worth of travel for the average motorist. Moreover, charging an EV at home
can notably reduce what drivers spend on their cars since VAT on domestic electricity is only 5%, compared to the standard 20% for commercial street chargers. . Recent government regulations
are streamlining the installation of private charging points and enabling councils to put in place new solutions like pavement ducts so that cabling to parked cars becomes more practical.
Already a more economical option than fuelling with petrol considering per-mile costs, electric cars can pile on savings with smart charging - something the Pod Point unit supports, possibly
saving users more than £1,300 annually. Rich Hughes, EDF's Director of Retail, commented: "Rich Hughes, director of retail at EDF, said: "By spreading the cost of a charger
over two years, we already make it easier for customers to manage typically high upfront costs. Now, with an additional £300 back upon signing up, the costs are even lower. We all know
driving electric will reduce our carbon footprint, and our aim is by offering more deals like this to help customers save cash in the process, we hope it’ll encourage more drivers to make
the switch.” The deal includes a Pod Point Solo 3S charger, available at a reduced upfront cost of £499 (RRP £1,099), with the remaining cost spread over two years and integrated into the
tariff. The tariff, priced at £1,383 for electricity only, offers cheaper overnight electricity at 8.49p per kWh from 12am to 5am for both driver's cars and homes. Customers are
required to visit EDF's website, and once registered, EDF will forward details onto Pod Point so they can purchase the Solo 3S EV charger from £499. After customers have bought their
charger and scheduled an installation date, EDF will apply the £300 credit to their account within 30 days. The Solo 3S comes with standard installation included and a five-year warranty.
The Pod Point app also allows users to manage their home charging from their phone. The offer ends on 31 January 2025. Notably, if you already have a home charger installed, there are
tariffs available that undercut EDF. These are provided by E. on, Ovo, British Gas and Scottish Power. A recent study by home charger provider Andersen EV found that by using a smart
charger, drivers of a typical EV could end up paying just £18 to do 1,000 miles per month - far cheaper than the £128 cost of refuelling a petrol car. Another study by charge point mapping
service ZapMap found that a typical couple who do 80 percent of their EV charging at home and travel 10,000 miles a year spend just £660 on charging, compared to a petrol driver who spends
£1,430 on fuel. The RAC is urging the government to take immediate action to promote the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), such as reintroducing grants to lower the initial purchase
cost. Additionally, they are calling for the Chancellor to reduce VAT on public EV charging from 20 percent to align with the 5 percent charged on domestic electricity, ensuring those unable
to charge at home are not unfairly disadvantaged.