Ohme have just launched its free smart charging app for electric cars and vehicles. The app will enable owners to save hundreds of pounds annually, while also delivering invaluable insight to energy operators to help them balance the grid. The app uses the latest technology from Ohme, who are an intelligent electric vehicle charging company.
The launch represents a major milestone in the company’s mission to lower the barriers to electric vehicle adoption and accelerate the transition to clean energy. By offering many of the capabilities of smart charging through a free app, Ohme is providing drivers access to intelligent, low-cost charging by giving them the ability to control how much they pay to charge their vehicle from their smartphone.
There is no need for additional hardware because the app communicates directly with the car so owners can start taking control of their charging immediately.
Combining the Ohme App with a time-of-use tariff brings the cost of driving 10,000 miles (16,000km) down to around £160-£210. This represents an annual saving of between £275-£350, and £1,300 compared to a petrol-powered vehicle travelling 36 miles per gallon.
With 10 million electric cars and vehicles expected on UK roads by the end of the decade, this equates to a potential £2.8-3.5 billion of savings per annum for UK motorists in 2030, compared to using a standard charger on a fixed rate tariff.
The app also offers invaluable insights into electric car charging patterns and usage. This is crucial for energy companies seeking to better understand electric car owners behaviour, enabling them to manage demand more intelligently and protect the National Grid as the UK moves to a low carbon economy.
The app is key to driving Ohme’s momentum and expansion into new markets after the business grew by a factor of ten in 2020. With the company already present in nine global markets, the app is central to Ohme’s ambition to further expand its European footprint in 2021. The app will initially support Tesla vehicles, before rolling out to at least three other manufacturers in the coming weeks.
David Watson, CEO of Ohme, said, “Last year the UK government made the bold decision to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. We welcome the ambition, but we must also acknowledge the scale of the challenge. The two biggest short-term obstacles to electric vehicle adoption are cost and energy capacity. While prices are falling, they won’t be as affordable as petrol vehicles for a few years. Meanwhile, our energy grids were not designed to support millions of future electric vehicles, and will not be able to cope unless energy demand is carefully managed in the future.
“Ohme App demonstrates how a single, smart solution can meet both challenges head-on. By taking advantage of time-of-use tariffs, we can help drivers make significant savings on the cost of charging their vehicles. This also benefits energy operators by spreading demand more intelligently, and providing crucial insights to help them future proof the grid.”
