Zapmap has stopped providing its electric vehicle energy tariff comparison service, according to a notice on its EV energy tariffs page updated on 14 May 2024. The page states the tool is no longer being provided and that the service will resume when it is appropriate to do so1.
The notice on the page reads:
"due to the current situation, we are no longer providing our EV energy tariff comparison service. We apologise for any inconvenience, and will resume the service as soon as it is appropriate to do so"
The page does not say what "the current situation" refers to, and no date for resuming the service has been reported1.
Before the suspension, the tool listed EV-tailored tariffs with key costs, benefits and off-peak hours. Tariff details for sponsored listings were supplied by the energy provider, quoting a UK average unit electricity cost in pence per kWh. For unsponsored listings, average tariff details came either direct from the supplier, through desk research from costs per kWh quoted in the provider's marketing material, or, where that was not available, were calculated on a young family in a medium-sized house based in south-east Wales1.
The page sets out how these tariffs generally work. They typically have lower unit costs overnight when there is less demand on the national grid, a renewable energy promise, and some offer added benefits for the EV driver. Where off-peak or peak pricing was displayed, this formed part of the "standard EV tariff" rather than an option available to all customers. Costs vary by region and household, and individual quotes could differ from those shown1.
| Feature of EV-tailored tariffs as described | Detail |
|---|---|
| Off-peak pricing | Lower unit costs overnight when grid demand is lower |
| Renewable energy promise | Supplier matches energy used by the customer with electricity from renewable sources |
| Added benefits | Credit for "free miles", public charging network membership, environmental incentives or event tickets |
| Daytime use | Households with higher daytime electricity consumption may end up worse off overall, as peak costs per unit typically increase a little on such plans |
All of the EV-tailored tariffs included in the tool featured a renewable energy promise, with the supplier matching energy used by the customer with electricity from renewable sources1.
Why it matters for households
For a household that charges an electric car at home, the overnight rate is the number that decides whether the car is cheap to run. The page notes that charging at home is cheaper than petrol, diesel or public charging, but that it does increase electricity bills, which is why many EV drivers look at ways to maximise savings1. A comparison tool that put off-peak hours, unit costs and added benefits side by side made that comparison quicker; with the service suspended, that particular route is closed for now.
The page also flags a trade-off that applies to any household weighing an EV tariff: those with higher electricity consumption during the day may end up worse off overall, since peak costs per unit typically increase a little on such plans1. Households that regularly charge at home and rely on domestic charging rather than workplace or public charging are described as seeing the greatest benefits1. Smart meters are described as free to install by the energy provider, provided conditions are met, and as one way to improve electricity use when charging an EV without any additional cost or change of tariff1. Standing charges and on- and off-peak prices are among the factors the page says to factor in when comparing personalised quotes1.
What happens next
Zapmap says it will resume the service as soon as it is appropriate to do so, but gives no date and no explanation of the circumstances behind the suspension1.
Sources1 cited
- What EV energy tariffs are available? - Zapmap, zapmap.com