Energy giant British Gas is to break into the electric vehicle market after confirming plans to supply vehicle charging points for Nissan's Leaf electric car.
The utility firm will also offer to install solar panels in owners' homes so they can charge their car for free.
The energy giant said it will install charge points in homes and businesses across the country, including domestic driveways and garages as well as office car parks.
Customers will pay from around £1,000 to have a charge point installed, while solar panels start from around £9,000.
Charge points are more convenient than plugging the cars directly into the home electrical system and will substantially cut the charging time. British Gas will also help Nissan Leaf customers upgrade their home by installing solar panels - so they could charge their electric car for free.
The Nissan Leaf, which is available to test drive at showrooms from 1 March, is the first affordable, mass market electric family car to be sold in the UK and produces no exhaust emissions. It is much cheaper to run than petrol cars, with a full charge costing less than £2, which gives the Leaf a range of 109 miles.
Customers will pay from £995 for the installation of a charging point by one of British Gas’ nationwide network of qualified installers. The deal includes three years of free British Gas Home Electrical Cover which gives the customer unlimited call outs for all home electrical repairs, including parts and labour.
Experts predict that by 2020, electric vehicles could account for approximately 10% of all cars sold in the UK. This equates to 260,000 UK households owning an electric vehicle. With 700,000 homes expected to have solar panels by 2020, there is major potential for those households with both solar panels, electric vehicles and charging points to run their cars for free.
The average annual earnings of up to £900 generated by a standard-sized domestic solar panel installation can offset the average annual running costs of a Nissan Leaf.
Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas, said: “From today, Britons can drive an electric car powered by solar energy. The home of the future is here. A British Gas home with charge points, solar panels and smart meters is now a reality.
“We want our customers to use greener and cheaper energy. Partnering with Nissan on powering their electric cars is a very exciting driver of growth for British Gas as electric vehicles move into the mainstream.”
Paul Willcox, Managing Director of Nissan Motor (GB), said: “The Nissan Leaf is pioneering the electric car revolution in the UK. Leaf drivers will be ‘filling up’ with cheaper, cleaner fuel. Teaming up with a trusted brand like British Gas, Britain’s biggest supplier of electricity to homes, means that Nissan’s Leaf buyers can be assured of prompt and professional service when having their home ‘filling station’ installed.”
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