{"id":8198,"date":"2021-10-06T10:19:40","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T10:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1369044"},"modified":"2021-10-06T10:19:40","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T10:19:40","slug":"weirdly-rising-electricity-prices-can-actually-help-ev-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=8198","title":{"rendered":"Weirdly, rising electricity prices can actually help (?!) EV owners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Europe is facing an energy crisis thanks to low wind-power generation, broken connections that allow electricity to be shared across nations and shrinking nuclear energy sources. The UK has responded by burning more gas to produce electricity \u2014 but gas prices are at<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/global-markets-gas-2021-09-20\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">a record high<\/a>. The result is that wholesale electricity costs are at their<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofgem.gov.uk\/energy-data-and-research\/data-portal\/wholesale-market-indicators\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">highest levels in years<\/a>, and this is having a knock-on effect for anything that uses electricity.<\/p>\n<p>One benefit of owning an electric vehicle (often abbreviated to EV) is that they are usually cheaper to run, even if the cost of buying one is higher. Driving an EV 100 miles will, on average,<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/energysavingtrust.org.uk\/advice\/electric-vehicles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">cost around $5-8<\/a><span> (<\/span>\u00a34-6), compared with $17-22 (\u00a313-16) in a petrol or diesel car.<\/p>\n<p>In the first half of the previous decade, nearly all public chargers in the UK were<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fuelincluded.com\/2016\/07\/major-changes-in-electric-highway-as-revolution-continues-at-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">free to use<\/a>. Back when I drove my first EV in 2013, I travelled between public charging stations, frustrated by the car\u2019s paltry range of under 100 miles on a full battery. I stuck with it though, because not only was my sacrifice better for the environment, my fuel was free too. And even when it wasn\u2019t free, it was still significantly cheaper than running my old diesel car.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1369058 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3.jpeg\" alt=\"rising electric prices EVs \" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-280x210.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-180x135.jpeg 180w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-360x270.jpeg 360w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-368x276.jpeg 368w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/rising-electricity-prices-can-actually-help-ev-owners-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2021%2F10%2F06%2Frising-electricity-prices-can-actually-help-ev-owners-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Taken in 2013, this charging point was one of many which provided free electricity. Credit: Tom Stacey\" data-title=\"Share Taken in 2013, this charging point was one of many which provided free electricity. Credit: Tom Stacey on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Taken in 2013, this charging point was one of many which provided free electricity. Credit: Tom Stacey on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Taken in 2013, this charging point was one of many which provided free electricity. Credit: Tom Stacey<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1369058\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3.jpeg\" alt=\"rising electric prices EVs \" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-280x210.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-180x135.jpeg 180w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-360x270.jpeg 360w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/file-20210923-27-11ldhd3-368x276.jpeg 368w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span>While it is true that fossil-fuel prices&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/business-57861690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">are rising too<\/a><span>, motorists need good reasons to dump their old vehicles and switch to electric. But as electricity prices rise \u2013 and with them, the running costs of the average EV \u2013 where does that leave electric-car owners and those contemplating becoming one?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What does it cost to charge an EV?<\/h2>\n<p>In 2019 and 2020, the<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistical-data-sets\/annual-domestic-energy-price-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">average price<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity in the UK was around 18p. The data for 2021 hasn\u2019t been published yet, but an online quote from one of the UK\u2019s big six energy providers shows an average cost of around 33c (24p) per kWh for September 2021.<\/p>\n<p>A car with a 50 kWh battery would cost around $12.88 (\u00a39.50) to fill (allowing for some energy loss during charging) at 2020\u2019s average rate. At the September 2021 rate of 33c (24p) per kWh, that same car will cost around $17 (\u00a313) to charge, and that charge would be good for 200 miles. Filling up your EV will still cost you half of what it costs to fuel a petrol or diesel car. But public charging rates vary wildly, from<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoexpress.co.uk\/features\/354182\/gridserve-electric-forecourt-we-try-uks-first-bespoke-ev-charging-location\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">around 33c (24p) per kWh<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>at some rapid chargers to<span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.ionity.eu\/en\/general-questions\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-at-ionity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span>94c (<\/span>69p) at other units<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>at motorway service stations that offer super-fast charging.<\/p>\n<p>At 94c (69p), the full charge will cost $46.76 (\u00a334.50), which is equal, or in some cases more than using fossil fuels. Of course, you\u2019re unlikely to charge your EV from completely empty to completely full, so some of that energy would be at a cheaper rate. But even so, the financial benefits of switching to an EV don\u2019t look so strong when electric costs are high.<\/p>\n<h2>Where does that leave EVs?<\/h2>\n<p>Even though electricity prices are increasing, an enduring benefit of EVs is that they are what researchers call \u201cenergy source agnostic\u201d. Vehicles with an internal combustion engine typically need fuel refined from oil and have been designed for over 100 years to run on fossil fuels. EVs run on energy stored in batteries, and those batteries are effectively indifferent to where the energy comes from. It could be nuclear power, hydroelectric power, or solar power generated by photo-voltaic panels on the roof of a house. Again, these panels will cost money to be installed (although prices are falling every year), but once they are installed and the sun is shining, you can charge your car while it sits on your drive. When you consider that the average car isn\u2019t used<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/blog\/future-development\/2020\/09\/28\/the-end-of-the-car-as-we-know-it-what-covid-19-means-to-mobility-in-europe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">95% of the time<\/a>, it gives plenty of time to charge up from the sun for free.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1369059 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house.jpeg\" alt=\"EVs can charge with solar power \" width=\"647\" height=\"431\" sizes=\"(max-width: 647px) 100vw, 647px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house.jpeg 910w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-202x135.jpeg 202w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-796x531.jpeg 796w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/rising-electricity-prices-can-actually-help-ev-owners-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2021%2F10%2F06%2Frising-electricity-prices-can-actually-help-ev-owners-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Home charging could be free on sunny days with solar panels.\" data-title=\"Share Home charging could be free on sunny days with solar panels. on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Home charging could be free on sunny days with solar panels. on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Home charging could be free on sunny days with solar panels.<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1369059\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house.jpeg\" alt=\"EVs can charge with solar power \" width=\"647\" height=\"431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house.jpeg 910w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-202x135.jpeg 202w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/10\/house-building-solar-panel-architecture-energy-wooden-house-796x531.jpeg 796w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p>Let\u2019s also think about the times national power generation networks produce too much electricity. It seems unbelievable in the midst of an energy crisis, but there are times when the national grid generates<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wind-watch.org\/news\/2020\/04\/18\/wind-farms-could-be-paid-to-shut-down-as-uk-produces-too-much-electricity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">so much power<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>that operators don\u2019t know what to do with it. This phenomenon was more prevalent during the peak of COVID lockdowns, when some energy companies even<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2020\/apr\/05\/thousands-to-be-paid-for-daytime-green-electricity-use-during-lockdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">paid customers<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>to use renewable sources rather than switch them off. Electric vehicle batteries were the perfect sponges to soak up this excess power.<\/p>\n<p>Many countries are building more resilient power networks based around generating electricity when it makes sense \u2013 capturing the sun when it shines and the wind when it blows \u2013 and storing that in huge grid-scale batteries known as megapacks, to use when renewable electricity isn\u2019t been generated. Electric cars could be part of that storage too, and trials are ongoing to assess the viability of<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.octopusev.com\/powerloop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">vehicle-to-grid technologies<\/a>, which allow car batteries to transfer their power to the local grid during a shortage.<\/p>\n<p>If you charge your car on energy rates that apply to your home (and remember, electricity is priced around supplying a home\u2019s power needs, not charging more than 50 kWh of car battery each day too) your costs will almost certainly rise. But if you are smart about when and how you charge your EV, you could benefit from very cheap, if not free fuel costs for years to come. EVs may even become an important part of how energy networks balance supply and demand, controlling costs for everyone\u2019s benefit.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than being more expensive to fuel in an energy crisis, EVs, and their huge grid-connected batteries, could actually help prevent future crises and high prices.<\/p>\n<p><em>This article by<span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/tom-stacey-341340\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Tom Stacey<\/a><\/span>,<span> Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, Anglia Ruskin University,&nbsp;<\/span><span><span class=\"fn author-name\" itemprop=\"name\">is&nbsp;<\/span><\/span>republished from<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">The Conversation<\/a><span>&nbsp;<\/span>under a Creative Commons license. Read the<span>&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/tom-stacey-341340\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">original article<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/rising-electricity-prices-can-actually-help-ev-owners-syndication\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Europe is facing an energy crisis thanks to low wind-power generation, broken connections that allow electricity to be shared across nations and shrinking nuclear energy sources. The UK has responded by burning&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8198"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}