An electric car driver has said they are able to save around £1,000 a year on their energy bills through a savvy combination of heat pumps, being careful with their electricity usage, and one special cable.
Adrian, an electric car driver, was interviewed as part of a documentary by Channel 5 about how affordable electric cars are. As well as fitting his home with heat pumps and solar panels, Adrian also uses a special cable that connects his electric car to his house.
However, this isn’t so the house can be used to power the car, but so the car can power the house, and even warm it. Adrian said he uses the cable to power any device that can be plugged into a three-pin plug socket, such as a heater or gardening equipment.
Whilst this means sticking a cable through his letterbox, something he says the postman hasn’t complained about, he says he has been able to do a remarkable number of things with the cable.
He explained: “The heater comes directly from the car. The car will power anything up to 3.5kw, which is any three pin plug socket. I’ve used it to wash the carpet, strimmers for going round the back of the house.”
What this means, according to the documentary’s narrator, is that Adrian is able to save thousands thanks to his cost saving techniques.
They said: “[The cable] lets Adrian use his car as a power source, but this does mean a cable through the letterbox.
“Being canny with his electricity for his electric cars along with his solar panels and heat pumps have saved him over £1,200 a year.”
Adrian’s use of his electric car to save money comes as questions over the affordability of electric cars continue to be asked, especially as the government pushes for more people to ditch their petrol cars and go electric.
This is something likely to be helped by the influx of Chinese electric cars that are often cheaper than, but can go just as far, as their European rivals.
Speaking to the Express about their impact, Commercial Director of Auto Trader Ian Plummer said: “Chinese electric vehicles are cutting-edge products backed by affordable battery technology.
“These, along with the other affordable new electric cars that have just launched, will have a transformative impact on mass electric adoption in the UK.
“Trade turbulence with the US and EU tariffs are also making the UK relatively more attractive as a market and so we are likely to benefit from exceptional choice from the now 70 brands available.”