AA and Chargemaster have launched an electric vehicle partnership, which includes installing charge points at AA-rated hotels.

The partnership includes:

  • Home installation packages for £300
  • Polar charging packages discounted by more than 10% for AA members - the monthly cost of powering a car at Chargemaster charge points away from home is £7.85 a month with an unlimited number of charges but will be discounted for AA members by £1.00 per month to £6.85.
  • A programme to install charge points at AA-rated hotels - with 2,500 hotels across the UK rated by the AA, the programme offers the prospect of hundreds of AA-branded charging points for business and holiday travellers across the UK. This enables drivers to start the day with a fully charged car and not search for power in an unfamiliar place, often in the rush hour.
  • Information campaign - AA and Chargemaster will work together to promote the benefits of EVs to AA members through utilising www.theAA.com website

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: "We think that the EV revolution is about to take off and we want to help consumers understand the benefits of low cost, low emission driving and to show them it is accessible and affordable. Per mile driven an EV is five times cheaper than the average petrol car and carries no vehicle excise duty.

"Modern electric vehicle designs and performance are comparable to conventional internal combustion-powered vehicles. Concerns and regulations about diesel emissions may also prove to be a tipping point.

"Sales of new ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEV) doubled over the last year. And 63,000 drivers have taken advantage of the plug-in car grant. We expect the market to grow substantially, as buyers overcome their misconceptions.

David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, points out that a significant barrier to electric vehicle ownership is concern that when they reach their destination, drivers will not find a charging point available. This worries 81% of respondents to the AA's research.

"We want to change that perception," he said.

"This new relationship with the AA will see hundreds more AA branded charging points installed. They'll go in at AA-rated hotels and other accessible public places such as supermarkets, public car parks and town centres while we will be embarking on a public awareness campaign to show that charging a vehicle at home is neither difficult or costly."

The AA study showed that drivers have serious misconceptions about how long it takes to charge an EV as well as the availability of government incentives to not only pay for a new EV but to install a fast charging point at home.

David Martell points out: "Despite extensive publicity only 8% of over 21,000 respondents to the research realised that government grants are available to install a domestic electric vehicle charging point.

"And on the cost of installing a charging point, 96% or respondents either over-estimated or had no idea of the cost of installing a charger. A fifth of drivers thought it would cost more than £1,200 to do so.

"In fact, the cost of a charging point attracts a £500 grant towards the typical £800 cost - meaning that a reliable, fast electric vehicle charter can be installed for around £300. This shows we have much more to do to spread the word."