Energy Companies Offering EV Charging for Under $5

A row of Tesla electric vehicle charging stations in Albany, Western Australia, on April 19, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Energy giant Origin Energy is offering Tesla electric vehicle owners the opportunity to fully charge their cars for as low as $4.60 (US$3.05).

The energy company is providing automated EV charging within an app at 8 cents per kilowatt-hour during a scheduled charge session.

EV Power Up, as the scheme is known, tries to avoid peak times for charging to help the energy grid and save the customer money.

“That might mean we charge your car during the day when there’s more solar in the grid, or overnight when demand is lower,” Origin said in a video.

Typically, according to Zecar, a company aiming to be a “one stop shop for all things electric cars,” it costs between $16 and $49 to fully charge a Tesla EV, depending on the model, for distances between 450 km and 614 km.

The discounted EV charging is only available to those who own a Tesla EV, hold an Origin residential electricity account, and company app.

“Origin EV Power Up is the new way to ensure your EV is charged by a time that is right for you, all for less than $5,” a video promoting the scheme states.

The scheme has been broadened following a trial of 200 Tesla EV owners in early 2024.

Origin notes that there are projected to be three million EVs on the road by 2030, with “Australia’s adoption of EVs going full steam ahead.”

“And for households who power their vehicle at home, this could see their energy consumption increase by up to 40 percent,” Origin said.

Brendan Manzie, Origin Future Energy’s general manager, stated that this scheme will support the national electricity grid as EV numbers grow in Australia.

Origin is looking to expand the scheme to support other EV brands including Volvo, BYD, and MG.

“We’re starting with Tesla vehicles—the most popular EV brand in Australia—and look forward to progressively expanding EV Power Up to support a range of EV models in the near future,” he said.

The Australian government is providing millions of dollars toward a national EV charging network, delivering chargers to key highways across Australia.

EV Charging with a Smart Metre

Meanwhile, another ASX-listed energy giant AGL, is offering EV charging for as low as $5 at night at 8 cents per kilowatt hour between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m.

This requires a digital metre, also known as a smart metre, enabling AGL to measure energy usage between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., which is the off-peak time.

“If you don’t have a digital meter and want to sign up to the Night Saver EV plan, you can arrange to have one installed,” the company states.

Battery EV Sales Decline in April 2024

Meanwhile, Battery electric vehicle sales slid to 6.4 percent of total new car sales in April 2024, down from 7.9 percent at the same time last year.

However, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales made up 18.3 percent of the market in April, up from 7.5 percent in 2023, data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries released on May 3 showed.

A strong market for SUVs and light commercial vehicles is continuing to exist. For example, the SUV category made up 55.7 percent of the market share in April, while light commercials made up 22 percent of sales.

Toyota was the top-selling vehicle, followed by Ford, Mazda, Kia, and Mitsubishi in the month of April.

The NRMA also noted there was a “distinct dip in sales” for battery electric vehicles in April compared to the same time in 2023. Tesla’s share of the EV market also somewhat fell during the month. In April, 33 percent of EVs were Tesla, compared to 53 percent in 2023.

AAP contributed to this report