Despite electricity price increases at the start of the new year, charging an EV at home can still offer significant savings compared to running a petrol car.
This is the view of home charging specialist Ohme, which says electric car owners can combat the latest price increases by using a smart energy tariff.
Current fuel prices mean petrol costs an average of £1.36 per litre – equivalent to £6.17 per gallon. Typically, a modern petrol car will be capable of covering 40 miles per gallon of fuel.
Ohme notes that spending the same £6.17 via a smart charging energy tariff could power an electric car for up to 350 miles – the equivalent of 350mpg.
Smart charging can offset tariff increases
Ohme uses the electric Audi A6 Avant E-tron as an example of how drivers can save money using smart tariffs, compared to the new electricity Standard Variable Tariff of 27.69p/kWh.
Although most EV drivers are unlikely to run their battery completely flat, recharging the Audi’s 75.8kWh battery from zero to 100 percent would cost £20.99 using the Standard Variable Tariff.
However, using a dynamic electricity tariff such as Intelligent Octopus Go could cost £5.31 for the Audi’s full 361-mile range
“The idea of a car doing 350mpg would obviously be fanciful, but that could be the reality when charging your EV on a smart energy tariff at home,” said Ohme CEO David Watson.
“Charging at home will always be the most affordable place for EV drivers to charge their cars, even with this latest rise. Changing to a smart electricity tariff will enable drivers to maximise those savings still further.”
Making the case for home charging
Founded in 2017, Ohme is now the official UK home charging device provider for a range of vehicle manufacturers, including the Volkswagen Group, Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, Hyundai, Smart, Suzuki and XPeng.
Ohme is also the exclusive charger provider for customers who choose an electric vehicle through the Motability scheme.
Between September 2024 and April 2025, Ohme undertook its ‘Winter Crowdflex trial’, which encouraged drivers to plug in their EV to charge whenever they were at home.
Taking part in the trial earned Ohme customers more than £400,000 in seven months, aided by smart charging capabilities.
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