InstaVolt extends off-peak hours to bring cheaper charging for longer

Chargepoint operator Instavolt has announced another expansion of its off-peak charging window, offering 11 hours of cut-price charging.

Drivers can now top up at any of Instavolt’s sites for 55p per kWh between 8pm and 7am, making it the cheapest ultra-rapid charging available without a membership or subscription.

Instavolt says that on its newly extended rates, a typical 40kWh recharge will cost just £22.

The move is the second extension of the CPO’s off-peak offering and comes thanks to its investment in battery storage technology.

The UK’s largest ultra-raid operator, Instavolt says that by storing energy overnight – when non-commodity costs are lower and grid demand is reduced – it can buy power more cheaply and pass those savings on to customers.

It says that by doing this and increasing use of battery storage systems at its charging hubs, it can separate its energy purchasing from peak grid demand, “building resilience against energy market volatility”.

Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said: “We believe public charging should be as affordable and accessible as possible, and our off-peak rate is a direct expression of that commitment. Fifty-five pence per kWh, for eleven hours a day, available to any driver through our free app: no membership, no catch.

“We are investing in the infrastructure to make this possible, and as that investment grows, we expect to be able to go further. This is what innovation through action looks like.”

At Instavolt’s flagship Winchester Superhub, which is leading its battery storage efforts, drivers can also enjoy reduced peak-time charging throughout the summer. A flat rate of 70p/kWh is available to all drivers, while those using the app will pay 65p/kWh.

The announcement comes as new data suggests public EV charging is now cheaper than an average petrol fill-up. Fuel price volatility in the wake of the Iran War has pushed the cost per mile of a petrol car beyond that of an EV, even if that car is exclusively charged at public devices.