Extreme Winds Provide Free Electricity for Electric Cars

Electric car owners were paid to charge their vehicles following an extreme wind over the December 14 weekend.

22:07 18 December 2019

The extreme wind over the December 14 weekend has enabled the UK’s wind farms to generate a record 16GW, which represents 45per cent of the UK’s total electricity supply. To relieve pressure on the electric grid, electric car owners were offered compensation for charging their vehicles.

 

 

Drivers using Ohme charge and are signed up to the supplier Octopus Energy’s time-of-use-tariff were alerted of the opportunity in advance. Each customer received 5.6p for every kilowatt-hour of electricity used, which equates to 1.8p per mile.

 

 

CEO of Ohme, David Watson said: “This is a landmark moment. For the first time, drivers using our smart technology on Octopus Energy’s Agile tariff have been paid to charge their vehicles – something that will happen with increasing regularity as the UK becomes more dependent on wind power.

 

 

“The windy weather has clearly demonstrated the value of our smart chargers as we not only help electric vehicle drivers get cash for filling up with 100% renewable energy but also ease pressure on the electricity system.”