British Gas has been named the preferred supplier of charging points by Toyota, as the car maker prepares to launch its first rechargeable electric car.
The energy giant will now offer Toyota customers, in both private and business capacity, a range of products to help make it easier for them to replenish the battery of their Prius Plug-in hybrid as the model goes on sale from next year.
The new Prius Plug-in hybrid is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, which allows it to have an all-electric range of around 14 miles. Beyond the electric driving range, it the model operates as a conventional full hybrid with the efficiency of a standard Prius. To maximise the use of its EV driving range, the car can be fully recharged from a 240V electricity supply in just an hour-and-a-half.
Thanks to its EV driving range, Prius Plug-in is expected to achieve fuel efficiency of 134.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 49g/km (target figures).
British Gas, which is already the preferred supplier of recharging facilities for Nissan Leaf customers, will now also support Toyota customers, completing a full free of charge site survey, to give advice on the best way to equip their home for electric vehicle charging. The installation options include a dedicated circuit with a three-pin socket, costing from £275, and a purpose-designed charging unit for safe, easy and fast recharging, priced from £799.
For peace of mind, the charging unit can be protected by British Gas’s Home Electrical Car three-year protection package, which includes unlimited call-outs per contract year for home electrical repairs, including parts and labour.
British Gas will also meet the requirements of business customers, with a range that includes both post and wall-mounted charging points with double sockets. These can be engineered to deliver charging from 3kW to 43kW. In the future this will allow certain electric vehicles to be charged in less than an hour.
Dean Keeling, Managing Director of British Gas Smart Homes, said: “Electric cars are coming of age and this new partnership with Toyota is part of a continued drive by British Gas to make any type of electrically powered car simple, safe and more cost-effective.
“Our national network of electrical engineers provides all the advice and expertise necessary to enable car owners to power their car safely and easily, and for less money.”
Order books for the Toyota Prius Plug-in are expected to open soon for UK customers. Prices have still yet to be confirmed, but deliveries are expected to begin around June/July of 2012.
