- Documents from UK electricity regulator Ofgem show that Tesla has launched an application for an electricity supply license, as it looks towards becoming an energy supplier in the UK, competing with the likes of Octopus Energy and British Gas.
- If approved, Tesla will have the authority to supply electricity to ‘non-domestic and domestic premises’ across Great Britain.
- The potential new supplier is likely to be called Tesla Electric, mirroring the name of its energy supplying arm currently offered in Texas.
Tesla looks to launch Tesla Electric in the UK
This potential new option for UK consumers will help create an energy ecosystem, and incorporate Tesla cars alongside its battery storage, home charger, and solar offerings. In Texas, Tesla Electric has an offer of unlimited charging between midnight and noon for a flat monthly fee, giving an idea into how Tesla Electric could differentiate itself from the competition if it is to come to the UK.
The new energy provider could be an optional bundle for those purchasing a new Tesla EV, but much like other EV-specific tariffs, Tesla Electric could also be an enticing offer for owners of all EV brands.
Tesla Electric would join a growing number of UK energy providers that offer EV-specific deals and tariffs, helping to make EV cost of ownership even cheaper than their ICE counterparts. Octopus Energy, for example, offer UK customers the option of its Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, currently the most popular EV-specific tariff in the UK. This allows customers off-peak overnight EV charging rates as low as 7p per kWh, and is likely something that Tesla will want to emulate should its application to become an electricity provider be approved.
The news comes as Tesla’s vehicle sales across the UK and much of Europe have dropped in recent months, put partly down to model refreshes but also a weakening in brand popularity. The potential launch of Tesla Electric in the UK could be enough to claw back sales, if it can offer significant energy savings for homeowners.
