UK smart EV charging company Ohme EV has announced a deal for drivers with Free Now London’s first ride-hailing service to bring black cabs and private hire vehicles together in one app. The offer cuts the price of Ohme’s smart charging cable by a quarter, making it even easier for drivers to access cheap or even free energy when charging their EVs. Ohme’s technology can even enable EV owners to get paid to charge - by plugging in at times of surplus energy generation. Free Now drivers will also benefit from reduced installation costs for Ohme’s home charger.
The announcement comes at a time of intensified interest in green transportation in the capital, with London’s black cab and private hire fleet required to meet strict new emissions standards by 31st December 2022. This means all private hire vehicles (PHVs) under 18 months old must be zero emission capable (ZEC) and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard when licensed for the first time, requiring a switch from diesel to low or zero-emission vehicles.
“Electric vehicles are a key pillar of the UK’s strategy of transitioning to cleaner, greener and cheaper transportation” said David Watson, CEO of Ohme. “But investing in new vehicles and charging infrastructure can be a barrier to achieving this goal. The more we can bring down the initial cost of equipment and software such as smart charging technology, the faster drivers and fleet operators can achieve significant savings in running costs by accessing cheap electricity, while delivering more sustainable travel for all. Delivering this future cannot be done solely from the top down: it requires action at the socket, not just in City Hall or Westminster. That’s why Ohme is committed to working with organisations like Free Now who share our vision of bringing down the cost of switching to electric vehicles. Together we are bringing smart EV charging technology to the wider market in our pursuit of cleaner air and reduced carbon emissions.”
Mariusz Zabrocki, General Manager at Free Now UK, added that transportation in London is undergoing a green revolution and that it’s vital that we keep up momentum and don’t allow progress on decarbonisation to stall.
“We are committed to supporting black cab and private hire drivers to switch to electric vehicles, which is why our new partnership with Ohme is so important” Mr Zabrocki said. “By lowering the barriers to entry and delivering affordable charging, we can ensure that London is a beacon for other cities in how to improve air quality without costing the earth.”
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