Enquiries about electric vehicles have surged by more than 630% in the past year, according to ScottishPower, as rising petrol and diesel prices prompt more motorists to consider switching.
The energy company said interest in its EV Optimise smart charging service had risen sharply, with fuel prices approaching £2 a litre.
ScottishPower estimates that filling a typical 55-litre petrol tank now costs around £96, compared with around £10 to charge an electric vehicle for the equivalent distance using EV Optimise.
The company said driving an EV with the service can cost as little as 2p per mile, while smart charging rates start at 8p per kilowatt hour.
Customer uptake of EV Optimise has also increased by 430% compared with last year, while adoption of ScottishPower’s EV Saver tariff has risen by more than 10%.
EV Optimise automatically schedules vehicle charging for off-peak periods, when electricity is cheaper and demand on the grid is lower.
The EV Saver tariff offers discounted overnight electricity rates for electric vehicle drivers, with rates starting at 8.5p per kilowatt hour.
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Roz Brennan, smart solutions director at ScottishPower, said: "With fuel prices nearing the £2-a-litre, we’ve seen a huge spike in interest from drivers looking to make the switch to electric vehicles, particularly in the past few weeks.
"The fact that our EV Optimise enquiries have increased by more than 630% year-on-year is a clear reflection of the rising cost of diesel and petrol and shows that motorists are absolutely looking to reduce their everyday running costs as much as possible.
"Driving an electric vehicle with EV Optimise can cost as little as 2p per mile, and a clear choice between nearly £100 or £10 for the same distance on an average tank of petrol v EV charging – there’s no doubt that EVs are significantly cheaper making switching more attractive than ever.
"As more people weigh up the cost of motoring, we’re here to help make the transition to electric as simple and affordable as possible."
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