Starting My Electric Vehicle Journey
In February 2026, I officially started my electric vehicle (EV) journey with the MG S5 and a Pod Point home EV charger.
Like many new EV drivers, I was excited about switching to electric, but also slightly overwhelmed. Installing a charger, setting up apps, understanding EV energy tariffs, dealing with WiFi connectivity, and scheduling overnight charging all came with a learning curve.
A month before my MG S5 arrived, I had my Pod Point charger installed at home. The installer was friendly and helpful, showing me how to download the app and register the charger. Everything seemed straightforward—until I started charging the car for real.
Here’s what I learned about EV charger installation, EV tariffs, home charging costs, and driving the MG S5 in everyday life.
Installing a Pod Point Home Charger
The Pod Point installation process itself was smooth and simple.
The installer explained:
- How to schedule EV charging overnight
- How to download and use the Pod Point app
- How to register the charger
At the time I was with EDF for my energy supply, and I decided to stay with them. One thing I didn’t realise before installing the Pod Point charger was that Octopus Energy’s Intelligent EV tariff wasn’t compatible with my setup.
Because of this, I stayed with EDF and switched to their EV tariff for home charging.
My EDF EV Tariff (February 2026)
When charging an electric vehicle at home, the electricity tariff you choose makes a huge difference to running costs.
My EDF EV tariff in February 2026 was:
- Night rate: 8.99p per kWh (12:00am–5:00am)
- Peak rate: 28.96p per kWh
- Standing charge: 49.61p per day
Energy prices change regularly, so these prices reflect the situation at the time of writing.
The key benefit of an EV tariff is being able to charge your car during off-peak hours, when electricity is much cheaper.
First Charging Attempt: WiFi Problems
Before testing overnight charging, I decided to try charging manually during peak hours just to check everything worked.
That’s when I discovered my first issue: the Pod Point charger wouldn’t connect properly.
After some investigation, I realised the WiFi signal on my driveway was too weak. The charger couldn’t maintain a stable connection.
To solve the problem, I had to move my WiFi booster closer to the charger to improve the signal.
Unfortunately, I’ve had frequent issues with my routers and boosters dropping signal. It took around three hours and a call to Vodafone support to get everything stable again.
Once the signal improved, the charger connected properly.
Lesson learned: Always check the WiFi signal strength where your EV charger will be installed, especially if it’s outside.
Learning to Schedule Overnight EV Charging
Once the WiFi issue was fixed, I was ready to take advantage of the 8.99p off-peak charging rate.
Attempt 1: The 24-Hour Clock Mistake
I scheduled charging from 12 to 5, assuming that meant midnight to 5am.
Unfortunately, I had actually set it from 12noon to 5am, so the car didn’t charge overnight.
Attempt 2: Car and Charger Not Communicating
The next night I tried again, but still nothing happened.
This time I had accidentally created two charging schedules:
- One in the Pod Point app
- One in the MG S5 vehicle settings
The two systems weren’t communicating properly.
I woke up to… a car that still hadn’t charged.
Attempt 3: Success
On the third attempt I turned off the schedule in the car and controlled everything through the Pod Point app.
Finally, it worked.
Key lessons for new EV owners:
- Don’t run two charging schedules at the same time
- Double-check 24-hour time settings
- Make sure your vehicle and charger are registered correctly
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?
This is where EV ownership becomes really exciting.
Charging overnight at around 8p per kWh, five hours of charging cost less than £3.
A full charge takes around 8 hours, so I usually charge over two nights or when the battery drops close to 50%.
A full charge costs roughly £6 and gives me around 190 miles of range.
That includes:
- One 90-mile motorway trip
- Heating
- Heated seats
- Normal driving conditions
Driving around town is even more efficient, especially because the MG S5 uses regenerative braking, which recovers energy when braking.
Compared to petrol or diesel, EV charging at home is dramatically cheaper.
A Small Pod Point App Quirk
One thing worth noting about the Pod Point charging app.
While the car is charging, the app doesn’t immediately show updated charging data. It only refreshes once you unplug the vehicle.
At one point, after two failed charging attempts, I emailed Pod Point support. They responded very quickly.
By the time they replied, I had already realised the charging data refreshes when the cable is unplugged.
Customer support was excellent and very responsive.
EV Tariffs in the UK: A Quick Comparison
If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, choosing the right EV energy tariff can significantly reduce charging costs.
Some popular EV tariffs in the UK include:
| Supplier | Tariff | Off-Peak Rate | Charging Window | Notes |
| EDF | GoElectric EV tariff | ~7–9p/kWh | Overnight | Compatible with many chargers |
| Octopus Energy | Intelligent Octopus Go | ~7–8p/kWh | 11:30pm–5:30am | Smart charging integration |
| Octopus Energy | Octopus Go | ~8.5p/kWh | 12:30am–5:30am | Works with most chargers |
| OVO Energy | Charge Anytime | ~7p/kWh equivalent | Flexible charging | Requires compatible car or charger |
| British Gas | EV Power | ~9p/kWh | Midnight–5am | Similar structure to EDF |
Important:
Always check charger and vehicle compatibility before switching energy suppliers, as not all EV tariffs work with every charger.
Driving the MG S5: First Impressions
After the first month of driving the MG S5 electric car, I’m genuinely very happy with it.
The MG S5 is:
- Comfortable
- Smooth to drive
- Quiet and relaxing
- Feels safe and solid
Compared to petrol and especially diesel vehicles, it feels like a major upgrade.
I don’t drive very long distances, and with diesel cars I used to have problems with batteries failing in winter because they weren’t driven enough. I certainly don’t miss visiting fuel stations.
A Safety Tip for New EV Drivers
One thing that surprised me when switching from petrol to electric was how EVs power on and off.
Many electric cars don’t have a traditional ignition. Instead, they automatically activate when you unlock the car.
With the MG S5, if you want to manually power the car down you must:
- Open the vehicle menu on the infotainment screen
- Select the car icon
- Choose “Power Off”
The vehicle will also turn off automatically when you lock the car.
Because EVs are so quiet, it can sometimes feel like the car is off when it’s actually still active.
Good habits to develop include:
- Always lock the car when walking away
- Confirm the car has powered down
- Check via the key or app that the vehicle is secured
Is Switching to an Electric Vehicle Worth It?
This is only the beginning of my EV journey.
There were definitely early hiccups
But once everything was set up properly, charging an electric car at home became simple and extremely cost-effective.
One thing I would say is that it would be helpful if home chargers could operate fully offline. When chargers rely heavily on WiFi connectivity, unstable internet can cause unnecessary frustration.
Smart features are useful, but basic charging should always work reliably.
Real-World EV Running Costs After One Month
After a full month of driving my electric car, the difference in running costs compared to my previous petrol car has been striking.
Charging mostly overnight using the EDF EV tariff, my total electricity cost for the month was roughly:
£25
Previously, my petrol costs were around:
£25 per week (£100 per month)
That means switching to an EV has saved me roughly:
£75 per month on fuel alone
Actual savings will vary depending on how much you drive and whether you can charge at home on an off-peak tariff, but for everyday commuting the difference can be significant.
Final Thoughts on Owning an Electric Car
Switching to an electric vehicle in the UK has been a positive experience.
For me, driving electric feels like a smart, economical, and forward-thinking choice.
Petrol? Probably not going back.
Diesel? Definitely not.
Thinking About Getting an Electric Vehicle?
If you’re considering switching to an electric vehicle (EV) and want to understand home charging, EV tariffs, or the potential running costs, it can really help to speak to someone who can give clear, impartial advice.
Greener Homes in Lancashire is a free home energy advice service supporting Lancashire residents. Whether you’re wondering about installing a home charger, choosing the right EV tariff, or reducing your energy bills, our team can help you understand your options.📞 Call Greener Homes in Lancashire on 0800 058 4066 to speak to one of our friendly advisers.
This blog was written by Georgianna, one of the advisers at Greener Homes in Lancashire, sharing her real-life experience of switching to an electric vehicle.