British Gas Becomes Exclusive Charging Partner For Mitsubishi Motors In The UK

LONDON – Oct 23, 2012: It has been announced today that British Gas will be the exclusive supplier of electric vehicle charging solutions for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK.

Mitsubishi Motors were the first mainstream manufacturer to the global market with the pure-EV Mitsubishi i-MiEV in 2009 and are proud to be first to market again with their pioneering plug-in hybrid technology. The global premiere of the Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid), which will offer the most sophisticated technology currently available, took place at the Paris Motor Show last month and is due to go on sale in the UK in 2013.

British Gas now support more than 70% of the domestic marketi, and this illustrates the growing profile of electric vehicles, driven by consumers’ and businesses’ desire to keep control of their finances, and to improve their impact on the environment.

Customers of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK will have access to a range of British Gas charging solutions and can provide customers with a dedicated circuit from £375ii, which protects their home electrical supply from overload. Alternatively, British Gas can install a wall-mounted charging solution from £799iii, which cuts charging time by around a thirdiv.

Customers in London, the East of England, the Midlands and Milton Keynes may be eligible for a free Chargemaster Homecharge–i unit, as well as access to a network of public charging pointsv (the density of charging points varies by region), thanks to a partnership between British Gas and POLAR.

As well as the range of charging solutions, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK customers can also benefit from British Gas’ Off-Peak Saver Tariffvi, designed specifically with pure-EV and plug-in hybrid owners in mind. This tariff makes it cheaper to charge vehicles overnight and can save customers an average of £29 per yearvii compared to other tariffs.

British Gas customers on the tariff will also have a smart meter installed, which puts an end to estimated bills. Customers can access to British Gas’ new financing plan, which makes the purchase of a dedicated home charging solution easy by spreading payments over 12 months.

Dan Taylor, Director of New Ventures, British Gas, said:
“We are very excited about our work with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, especially given its long term commitment to pure-EVs, starting with the launch of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in 2009 and now with their pioneering PHEV technology. Pure-EVs and plug-in hybrids are an increasingly popular solution to people’s concerns over controlling costs and preserving the environment, and British Gas is well-placed to be at the heart of this electric revolution.

“Looking after more homes and businesses than anyone else in Britain, we are able to offers partners like Mitsubishi Motors in the UK our expertise and our experienced network of 650 electricians.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said:
"Our partnership with British Gas comes at an exciting time for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, with sales of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the launch of the Outlander PHEV in 2013, it cements Mitsubishi's plan for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to account for 20% of our sales by 2020. British Gas is well placed to be at the forefront of the electric vehicle market and we can now guarantee that new and existing customers will receive the very best advice about safe and efficient charging, free of charge, as electric vehicles move more into the mainstream."