Octopus Energy and Andersen EV have partnered to give drivers six months of free home EV charging. 

Delivered through Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, the offer applies to anyone purchasing an Andersen charger from 1 March 2026. 

The offer could save EV drivers around 4,370 miles of free driving during the six-month period – the equivalent to an estimated £221 in savings. 

Octopus Energy’s smart EV tariff takes advantage of off-peak rates and renewable-led off-peak electricity. 

The launch aligns with the March ‘26 registration plate change to support new EV owners setting up home charging for the first time. 

The promotion covers Andersen EV’s full charger lineup, including Andersen A3, Andersen A2, and Andersen Quartz (compact model). 

Richard Sephton, Head of EV Partnerships at Octopus Energy, said: "Andersen is accelerating the EV transition by bundling the cost-saving power of Intelligent Octopus Go into its charger range.  

“By offering this as a bundled solution, EV drivers will unlock hundreds of pounds in annual savings that smart tariffs provide, delivering a premium charging experience that pays for itself." 

The news follows a promotion by the government to 

increase EV charger grants from £350 to £500

 covering almost of the cost of a typical installation. 

UK energy provider announces 6 months of free EV charging

The government has announced an increase in its EV charge point grant for renters, flat owners, businesses and households without a driveway. 

Until March 2027, drivers could save half the typical cost of an EV charger installation with the government’s grant, which has now increased from £350 to £500. 

The change will allow EV owners to access cheaper electricity rates at home or at work for as little as 2p per mile – the equivalent of Birmingham to London for £3.50. 

Increased access to charging at homes and businesses is part of a wider plan to gear drivers up for the upcoming “EV revolution”.  

The latest figures show access to domestic charging can save EV owners up to £1,400, compared with standard petrol vehicles. 

Schools will be eligible for a grant of up to £2,000 per socket, helping to build on the 3,700 sockets already installed. 

Another government scheme aimed at increasing adoption, the £2 million Electric Car Grant, has previously helped 55,000 drivers save thousands when purchasing a new electric vehicle. 

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather said:  

“We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways. Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile. 

“Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.” 

Drivers could save half the cost of EV charger installation with new government grant boost

Grant boost could save half the cost of EV charger install

Think you know your cars? Guess the year these iconic models first launched.

Quiz: When did these popular car models first launch?

Can you guess when these popular car models launched?

John Clark BMW and MINI Aberdeen are our final dealership to have been named Dealer of the Month for 2025. 

This is the second time John Clark BMW and MINI Aberdeen have won the award, having won previously in December 2022. 

This time, the team received the recognition for utilising Bumper’s flexible payment options to improve the customer experience. 

Since 2022, the team have increased payment flexibility for their customers by adding additional payment methods into their offering – resulting in a near-perfect 4.8 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. 

In a review, one customer said: “BMW Aberdeen John Clark’s customer service is amazing. Very helpful, and I would really recommend Bumper to anyone who wants to split their bills.” 

Another customer said: “Unbelievably easy to set up. Done in like 30 seconds. So easy to spread out payments over a time to suit you. Would definitely use again.” 

By turning on Bumper Pro, John Clark has unlocked access to exclusive operational cost-saving features. 

Raymond Henderson, Service Manager at the Aberdeen branch, said: “You can see Bumper Pro was built by people who just get automotive. It addresses day-to-day challenges dealers like us face every day. 

“By diverting customers to more cost-effective payment methods like Pay by Bank, we’ve been able to reduce the burden of card processing fees on the business. 

“With Bumper Pro, you see the difference it makes to the business right away. Now that we have it, we can’t live without it.” 

Congratulations to the whole team at John Clark BMW and MINI Aberdeen! 

John Clark BMW and MINI Aberdeen: Harnessing flexible payment options to bolster customer experience 

John Clark BMW and MINI Aberdeen win Dealer of the Month

The government has started trialling new digital driving licenses with the Government Digital Services (GDS) and DVLA. 

Currently being tested internally with small numbers of GDS and DVLA staff, the trial could see the rollout of a digital license in the GOV.UK One Login app later in 2026. 

The digital license will contain the same information as your license – name, photo, license number, date of birth, address, expiry date and driving entitlements. Physical cards will remain valid for drivers who choose them until at least 2030. 

The trial is part of a broader ‘GOV.UK Wallet initiative’, aimed at making all identity documents digital. 

Science Secretary, Peter Kyle, said the digital wallet “opens huge opportunities to make interacting with public services much easier by putting people in control of their own data.” 

New tech like the digital wallet is expected to save £45 billion in efficiency savings, according to a government report. 

Government’s new digital driving licence could save billions 

58 classic and once-popular cars have been identified as likely to disappear from roads by 2030. 

Temporary vehicle insurance provider, Tempcover, analysed 10 years of DVLA registration data to estimate how quickly the numbers of specific models are declining. 

The analysis then forecasted an “extinction date” when registrations could hit zero, and the models completely disappear. 

As vehicles age, they become more expensive for drivers to repair and harder to source new parts, leading many to swap their current models for new ones.  

A shift to newer tech like electric vehicles and stricter emissions standards for drivers have also contributed to these models vanishing from our roads. 

Declining numbers could mean certain models are bought by collectors as “future classics”, increasing their value.  

Did any of your favourite models appear on the list? If so, you better snap them up before they disappear forever. 

Full list of cars expected to go ‘extinct’ by 2030

A new rule from the government affecting petrol stations has come into force this month. The change is aimed at making fuel prices more transparent for drivers. 

As part of the Fuel Finder Scheme, petrol stations are now legally required to report fuel prices in near real-time to a central database. 

Prices must be updated within 30 minutes of a change at the pump. This data will then feed into apps, comparison websites and mapping tools, enabling drivers to find the cheapest prices.

The change should make it easier for drivers to compare fuel prices before filling up. Government estimates anticipate vehicle owners could save up to £4.50 per tank. 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the scheme could help the average household save around £40 per year. 

Real-time prices will be accessible on third-party services like PetrolPrices.com and Fuel Finder UK. 

The scheme may also eventually integrate directly with sat-navs and map apps, making it even easier for drivers to make savings. 

All petrol stations are required to register and participate, including independent retailers and major chains. 

Sales between businesses, fuel sold in jerry cans, red diesel intended for agricultural purposes, and HGV depots operating under pre-arranged logistics agreements are not covered by the scheme. 

New rule for petrol stations could save drivers £4.50 per tank 

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Alastair Shephard

Content Writer