YouGov research predicts 1 in 5 adults surveyed to consider electric vehicle (EV) purchase in next 3 years

• First full end-to-end package to make switching easier and accelerate the electrification of transport - available in a single package and grant eligible
• 100% renewable electricity tariff - electric vehicles reduce carbon and improve air quality
• Choice of vehicle manufacturers - unique partnership with Arnold Clark enables customers to choose the brand of car they want
• UK’s smallest charge point - low profile design that can be connected to existing control panel without any new cabling to the street.
• Independent research predicts rapid EV growth - Survey points to dramatic increase in British adults considering switching to an electric vehicle by October 2021

Following its announcement it would become the first large energy company in the UK to produce 100% green electricity, ScottishPower today revealed it would be prioritising the UK’s switch to cleaner greener transport by unveiling the UK’s first end-to-end package electric vehicle ownership.

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO, said,

“We have moved on from fossil fuels to concentrate on clean renewables and today we announce the UK’s first end to end electric vehicle package that is 100% green. After removing carbon from how we generate electricity we believe the decarbonisation of the UK’s transport system has to be next.

“This means industry and Government working together to build the infrastructure so we can charge electric vehicles as well as building clean and cheap renewables to bring down the cost of motoring.  

“The UK needs to decarbonise transport faster and we have to make the switch to electric vehicles simpler.”   

In another UK-first, ScottishPower has agreed an unique link-up with the major car retailer Arnold Clark allowing buyers to purchase or lease an EV of their choice, book a home charging point installation and sign up to an exclusive 100% renewable electricity tariff as part of the same package.

As part of the same easy process, customers will receive the UK’s smallest fast charging point as well as having access to the ScottishPower App to facilitate smart charging.  This will ultimately allow vehicle charging to be remotely scheduled via a smart phone to start/stop charging at a time that suits day or night, allowing electric vehicle owners to take advantage of cheaper unit rates at off peak times.  No other utility in the market currently offers users this comprehensive app experience.

This simple solution is launched as new research published today shows that the number of adults thinking about buying an electric vehicle will shoot up dramatically in the next three years.  A YouGov poll predicts that 1 in 5 adults who don’t currently own an electric vehicle, or aren’t currently in the process of buying one, will be considering either the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle by October 2021 – a much faster rate of change than previously predicted, with only 2% of British adults owning an electric vehicle at present. 

The survey of around 2,000 adults, commissioned by ScottishPower, found a third of those who don’t currently own an electric vehicle, would be more likely to consider purchasing one if the manufacturers guaranteed that their power would come from 100% renewable sources.

Keith Anderson added:

“That’s why we’re accelerating the switch to electric vehicles by giving customers everything they need to make the change hassle-free through our new end to end electric vehicle package and partnership with Arnold Clark. 

“The signals couldn’t be clearer – people are telling us they want electric vehicles faster than expected, and that means the decarbonisation of our transport system, and improved air quality, can be delivered faster too.” 

Eddie Hawthorne, Arnold Clark Chief Executive and Group Managing Director, said:

‘The landscape of the automotive market is changing and inevitably the buying behaviour of our customers. Arnold Clark will continue to provide great value for money and knowledge on a range of electric vehicles throughout the UK with the additional incentive that our new partners, ScottishPower, will provide a network of recharging points to keep you on the move with confidence.’

The poll also showed while 1 in 2 adults in the YouGov poll disagreed that an EV charger at home will be the same size as a petrol pump, 46% didn’t know if they would need new cabling work to their home meaning that the front of the drive would need to be dug up. With the ScottishPower EV Charge Point, they don’t. Along with scheduled charging, it can be remotely locked for security too, easing concerns for more than 1 in 3 adults (35%) who are worried that another EV driver could use their home charging point without their permission.

Notes to Editors

1) Consumers can elect to receive both their gas and electricity supply from ScottishPower under the tariff component of the Electric Vehicle package. The electricity supplied under this tariff is backed off by Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates. Ofgem issue REGO certificates for every MWh of eligible renewable output to generators of renewable electricity in the UK. REGOs demonstrate that a given share of energy was produced from renewable sources. ScottishPower provides Ofgem with output submissions on a monthly basis based on production from our own renewable generation portfolio. For every MWh of electricity purchased on this tariff, ScottishPower will allocate a REGO certificate.

2) Under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, customers may be entitled to a £500 grant (OLEV grant) towards the cost of a charge point subject to the following list of requirements.

• 1) Consumers can elect to receive both their gas and electricity supply from ScottishPower under the tariff component of the Electric Vehicle package. The electricity supplied under this tariff is backed off by Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates. Ofgem issue REGO certificates for every MWh of eligible renewable output to generators of renewable electricity in the UK. REGOs demonstrate that a given share of energy was produced from renewable sources. ScottishPower provides Ofgem with output submissions on a monthly basis based on production from our own renewable generation portfolio. For every MWh of electricity purchased on this tariff, ScottishPower will allocate a REGO certificate.
• 2) Under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, customers may be entitled to a £500 grant (OLEV grant) towards the cost of a charge point subject to the following list of requirements.
  • Dedicated off-street parking
  • After 1st October 2016
  • Not already claimed this grant for your vehicle
  • Not outwith the limit of two OLEV funded charge points per household

In Scotland, the Energy Saving Trust may reimburse a further £300 towards the cost of a charge point.

• *Charging a new Nissan Leaf (40 kWh battery) takes in excess of 15 hours to charge if you plug into a standard plug socket. With our Smart EV charge point, you can get a full charge in approximately 7 hours.
• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2003 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th - 30th October 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
• Although retail pricing £899, the currently available £500 OLEV grant under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme brings the cost to £399, subject to grant conditions. In Scotland a further £300 is available for the customer to claim from the Energy Savings trust, bring this down to £99.
• Comparison of Electric and Petrol/Diesel costs:
  
  

• Mpg and kWh/mile taken from manufacturer published figures for all cars, combined cycle for petrol/diesel and NEDC range for EVs for vehicle manufacturer. Sources: manufacturer websites.
• Fuel cost used is an average for UK for 15/10/2018, source BEIS. https://www.racfoundation.org/data/uk-pump-prices-over-time £1.36 for Diesel and £1.30 for petrol.
• Unit rate for electricity: 14.21p per kWh (inc VAT).

 About Arnold Clark

Established in 1954 with a single car showroom in Glasgow, Arnold Clark is now Europe’s largest independently owned car retailer with over 200 retail points across the UK and over 12,000 employees. Sir Arnold Clark, who passed away in 2017 aged 89, founded the company on a simple principle; to offer value for money and customer service of the highest level.

The Group continues to carry on Sir Arnold’s ethos by placing customer experience at the heart of every venture, from car sales to the company’s many other disciplines, including Servicing and Repairs, Motability, Fleet Sales and Management, Accident Repairs, Vehicle Management, Commercial Vehicles Sales, Parts and Accessories and Insurance Services.  

In addition, Arnold Clark uses its continued success to give back to the communities in which it operates, through donations to non-profit organisations and local initiatives.