Ecotricity offering 1,000 free EV miles to new customers
Thu, Feb 13 2014
It makes complete sense for Ecotricity. "To get the greatest environmental benefit from an electric car, it needs to be charged using 100 percent green electricity from the wind and the sun – otherwise you're still powering it from dirty fossil fuels," wrote Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity.
Ecotricity, a UK-based producer of green energy, wants to bring fast charging to 90 percent of highway service stations around the UK in the near future and four fast chargers are installed per week under the Electric Highway campaign, the company says. Users can fast charge their EVs in 20-to-30 minutes.
Ecotricity recently instituted a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until April 1, reducing energy costs below what's being billed by the country's "Big Six" energy companies. Green Electricity + Car coincides with Volkswagen bringing its electric e-Up! to the British market. Volkswagen Group (UK) Limited imports VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda brand vehicles and has signed a deal with Ecotricity as its official green energy supplier. Volkswagen Group customers purchasing an EV through one of its brands can take advantage of a new, reduced-cost Ecotricity tariff and a free smart meter installation.
08 February 2014
Green Electricity + Car
Drivers of electric cars will receive 1,000 free miles every year with a new electricity tariff being launched by green energy company Ecotricity.
Green Electricity + Car – will not only power customers homes with green energy but also their cars (either 100% electric or plug-in hybrids), plus they'll get free access to Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers[1] – the Electric Highway.
This latest move comes after Ecotricity announced a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until the end of winter (April 1st), making them cheaper[2] than the standard tariff of the Big Six energy companies.
Dale Vince, founder of Britain's leading green energy company, Ecotricity, said: "To get the greatest environmental benefit from an electric car, it needs to be charged using 100% green electricity from the wind and the sun – otherwise you're still powering it from dirty fossil fuels.
"Ecotricity's new tariff ensures customers with electric cars are recharging at home with green energy and as a bonus they'll get at least 1,000 free miles worth of electricity[3].
"And when away from home – drivers of electric cars will also have access to the Electric Highway which will allow fast-charging at 90%[4] of motorway service stations around Britain. So when you're out and about you can still drive with zero emissions."
Ecotricity is launching the Green Electricity + Car tariff to coincide with Volkswagen bringing its first electric car – the e-up! city car – to the British market.
Ecotricity have signed a partnership deal with Volkswagen Group (UK) Limited, the UK importer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SEAT and SKODA, to be their official green energy supplier, meaning all customers purchasing an electric car from one of the Group brands will be offered the new Ecotricity tariff and a free smart meter installation.
Vince said: "Ecotricity is a twenty-first century energy company; combining the two types of traditional energy company: one that provides power to your home using electricity and gas, and the other that provides power to your car using petrol and diesel.
"Now a single energy company can provide power to both your home and your car from the same clean, green, renewable sources."
The launch comes as the Electric Highway continues to expand, with an average of four new GBP20,000 chargers being installed each week. It is fast becoming a truly national charging network for electric vehicles and will cover 90% of Britain's motorways by the Spring. It allows EV drivers to travel the length and breadth of Britain and re-charge in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee.
[1] Fast charge with compatible vehicles only
[2] On average, cheaper than the standard tariff of the traditional Big Five electricity company in your region.
[3] Compared to Ecotricity's normal Green Electricity tariff.
[4] Every Moto, RoadChef & Welcome Break – who together own 87 out the Britain's 98 motorway service stations – is having fast-chargers installed as part of the Electric Highway, which allows charging in 20-30mins.
Featured Gallery 2015 Volkswagen e-up!: Frankfurt 2013
View 16 Photos
- News Source: Ecotricity via Treehugger
- Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL
- Government/Legal
- Green
- Volkswagen
- Electric
- highway
- ecotricity
- renewable
- green energy
By Jon LeSage
See also: TN politicians may push to end VW incentives if plant goes union, Porsche board members facing another ˆ1.8B lawsuit over VW takeover bid, Last VW bus ever made arrives at final destination.