It’s easy being green – you just need an EV and the right smart tariff

We hate to say it, but everyone’s favourite fictional frog was wrong. It’s actually pretty easy being green – especially if you switch to driving an EV. (We’ll be in touch with Kermit’s team asap to let them know).

Here’s why EVs are so much more eco-friendly than petrol and diesel cars, and how choosing the right tariff can reduce your environmental impact even further.

No tailpipe emissions = no harmful greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. In fact, by switching from a petrol or diesel car to an EV, you release 1.5 tonnes less of CO2 annually. And, you make an immediate difference to the air quality in your towns and cities.

That’s a pretty big impact for just one person, but it doesn’t stop there.

By choosing an EV, you are driving demand for more investment in EV infrastructure and technology. In turn, this makes them more affordable and accessible for a greater number of people.

Put another way: you’re not just reducing your own carbon footprint, you’re making it easier for others to reduce theirs too.

The manufacturing process for EVs does produce greenhouse gases. Lithium ion battery production is probably the most resource-intensive step in the process.

However, EVs still produce 58% less emissions than petrol cars on average, even when taking into account the emissions during production. This is because:

• EV batteries last a long time – currently the estimate is around 10-20 years. Compare that with the number of parts a petrol or diesel car needs!
• EVs don’t produce tailpipe emissions, offsetting a significant chunk of the emissions associated with battery production.
• The EU recently drew up new regulations for the recovery and reuse of materials from old EV batteries for use elsewhere, such as in electricity storage on the grid.

On top of this, manufacturers are constantly searching for ways to improve the sustainability of their production process – from Tesla’s solar-powered Gigafactory to BYD’s drive towards removing rarer minerals from battery production.

And improvements in EV battery technology and manufacturing techniques are extending their lifetime, resulting in more sustainable production. Check out how BYD are trialing a super-fast, lithium free battery already.

There’s just one thing greener than a car that produces zero emissions – and that’s a car that produces zero emissions whilst being powered by green energy sources.

You can do two things to make this happen:

1. Opt for a green energy supplier, so that the majority of your energy comes from sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar.
2. Charge your EV during off-peak hours, when it’s much more likely that the national grid is using green energy.

And how about this - with vehicle to grid (V2G) technology you can use your EV to power your home at peak times, reducing the amount of non-sustainable peak-time energy you use (and saving yourself a nice chunk on your energy bills).

Smart EV tariffs don’t just help save the planet – they help save you money.

Anyone can sign up to the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, which gives you six hours of low-cost, green energy per night, and automatically charges your EV when electricity is cheapest. Intelligent Octopus Go customers can charge for just 7p/kWh – up to 70% less than price cap rates.

And, if you’re an Intelligent EV customer, you can join our exclusive Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver tariff, which gets you an extra 1p off off-peak rates on top of everything else the standard tariff offers.

Looking for a leasing scheme that makes it easier than ever to reduce your carbon footprint? Here’s why Intelligent EV could be the one for you.

• Lease one of the most exciting EVs on the market – you choose your mileage and your term length.
• Enjoy cheap, green EV charging with Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver, including six hours of low-cost energy every night.
• Keep your car in top shape with servicing and maintenance included in your lease.
• Enjoy a range of discounts on green energy tech via our sister company Octopus Energy, including heat pumps and solar panels.