Lucy Sherliker, Head of Customer at Zuto car finance, comments on what the latest changes in the budget could mean for car owners.

Road pricing: the pay-per-mile idea

Lucy explains: “There was heavy speculation in the lead up to the Budget about the pay-per-mile idea and today it was confirmed there will be a £0.03 per mile levy introduced for battery electric cars and £0.015 per mile for plug-in hybrid cars for 2028-29. This follows an uptick in EV ownership across the country, affecting the amount of fuel tax collected.”

Tips to be a more energy-efficient EV owner

To help offset this increase in costs, EV owners should do the following, where possible:

“To reduce the amount of energy your EV uses, you can apply many of the efficiency tips that are relevant to fuel-powered vehicles, including regular servicing, driving smoothly, removing unnecessary items, checking tyres regularly and limiting aircon and heating use.

Charge your vehicle at home during off-peak hours

“Charging your vehicle at home is cheaper than using public plugs, as home electricity rates are significantly lower. You can further maximize this saving by charging your vehicle during off-peak hours, if your provider offers this. If you can’t install a home charger you should ask your workplace if they either have any or might be planning to add them in the future, as this is also often cheaper than public charging.

Use smart charging

“Smart charging provides the same benefits as at home off-peak charging, however it automates the process for you. This technology allows you to control your charging from your phone, by setting your preferences the technology will communicate with the vehicle and the grid to optimise charging.

Avoid charging your EV to 100%

“While it may sound counterintuitive, avoiding charging your EV battery to 100% can l help to preserve the battery’s lifespan and maintain the charging speed, saving you money in the long run. Charging the vehicle completely puts stress on the battery, causing it to degrade over time. By keeping your battery charged between 20% and 80%, you are helping to preserve the battery life of the vehicle.”

Fuel duty expiry

“Today’s early Budget announcement delivered the news that fuel duty will remain frozen at its current rate, which is good news for drivers across the country. The cut was introduced in 2022 to tackle record high fuel costs, and has been renewed until September 2026.

Actionable tips for keeping your car fuel-efficient

Service your car frequently

Lucy says: “Keeping up to date with regular car services- one for every 10,000 kilometers or 12 months- will help to ensure the engine runs smoothly and efficiently. Even minor issues can impact the vehicle’s fuel-efficiency, so it’s important to check and restore any issues as they occur.

Avoid staying in idle

“Avoid keeping your car in idle for longer than 30 seconds when you are stationary and it’s safe to turn the engine off, for instance, at school drop-offs. Keeping your car in idle burns fuel unnecessarily and contributes to the general wear and tear of the vehicle. Certain cars, including hybrid models, will automatically turn off if they stop longer than 10 seconds, as it’s more fuel efficient.

Drive as smooth as possible

“Smooth driving is the number one tip for improved fuel-efficiency. This means avoiding any sudden or rapid acceleration and braking wherever possible. General speed is also important. The more pressure you apply to the pedals, the more fuel you’re using. Driving at a steady pace will help improve your overall MGP.

Remove any unnecessary items out of your car

“Lightening the load of your vehicle is another effective way to increase your MPG. By keeping your car full of unneeded items, or always having a roof rack attached, your car engine is forced to work harder, resulting in fuel being burnt at a quicker rate.

Keep the heating and air conditioning to a minimum

“Try to avoid unnecessary use of the air conditioning and heating system when driving, opting for an extra layer where appropriate. Air conditioning puts an added strain on the engine which can easily be avoided. However, if you’re driving at faster speeds and need to reduce car temperature, keep the windows closed and turn the air con on, helping to reduce drag of the vehicle.

Check your tyres

“Having the right tyre pressure is key for road safety, but also plays a role when it comes to fuel-efficiency. The lower your tyre pressure, the more fuel your car requires to keep them turning. So if your tyres are feeling slightly deflated, make sure to give them a quick pump next time you use your car.”