The government has published a new action plan to seize on the potential of smart electric vehicle technology, with the ambition of making smart charging “the norm” at home and work by 2025.

Smart charging takes traditional ‘one-way’ charging of electric vehicles (EVs) into the future by harnessing the potential of energy data and the latest energy innovations.

Examples include helping motorists to charge their EV when electricity is cheaper or cleaner, enabling people to power their home using the electricity stored in their vehicle battery (also called ‘bi-directional’ or ‘two-way’ charging), and even allowing them to sell stored power back to the grid for profit.

Benefits for all

Depending on mileage, charging patterns and their energy tariff, it is believed smarter charging could save the average driver up to £200 per year, and a high mileage driver up to £1,000, while helping to efficiently balance demand and supply on the electricity grid.

This could deliver a win-win for everyone, with reduced electricity system costs lowering energy prices, motorists paying less for charging their EV, and more green electricity being added to the grid.

‘Change how we all think about energy’

Through its new Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan, the government aims to improve publicly available information on smart charging, unleash a “diverse and competitive” smart charging market and ensure private charge points are secure and compatible with the latest technology.

Smart charging functionality is already a requirement for all new charge points sold for private use as of July 2022.

Commenting on the new plan, Cara Haffey, automotive sector leader at PwC UK, said: “Smart charging not only improves the ease for drivers but also addresses the affordability dimension, as consumers can charge when it is cheaper.

“This initiative will also help to change how we all think about energy use in general and vehicle charging in particular. It should also help consumers take more control of how, where and when they charge their cars.”

EV revolution continues to gather pace

According to the latest projections, over a quarter of new vehicle registrations in 2023 will be pure EVs or hybrids, with business buyers and fleets making up the lion’s share of purchases.

Research shows that pure EVs are now the same price on a total cost of ownership basis than petrol or diesel cars in the UK. Despite the cost of energy crisis, fuel costs remain significantly lower for EVs than petrol or diesel vehicles.