Following its announcement it would become the first large energy company in the UK to produce 100% green electricity, ScottishPower CEO, Keith Anderson, 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.
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This simple solution is launched as new research published today, 05 October, 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 one in five 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.
Mr 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, also 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 one in two 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 one in three adults (35%) who are worried that another EV driver could use their home charging point without their permission.
