A new emergency roadside assistance policy has launched, bringing peace of mind to EV drivers.
Developed to tackle the key issue of range anxiety, the new policy is offered as an insured product that will sit alongside any existing breakdown insurance policy. It will be provided to both private and own business users of electric vehicles through newly authorised intermediary, Recharge Rescue.
The policy is particularly aimed at drivers moving into an EV for the first time. Should they run out of charge mid-journey, or arrive at a public charging point to find it’s not working, the insured driver can call an emergency number and a van, featuring a 7.2kW EV “fast charging” unit, will be dispatched to their location.
The target ETA is 90 minutes, with another 30 minutes required to charge the vehicle sufficiently to provide 10 to 15 miles’ range for most EVs in use on UK roads. The driver can then either get home and charge or find a convenient public charger.
The policy will respond to incidents nationwide and is available 24/7. It’s believed to mark a first, both in terms of being offered as a cost-effective insurance policy and for its higher-power 7.2kW charging units.
It’s been developed by Vehicle Help Limited and will be available on a direct basis via their website (www.recharge-me.co.uk) or through a network of partners including motor dealers, leasing companies and insurance brokers. The mobile recharging service has been developed by AFF Holdings Limited and draws on AFF’s extensive background as an emergency roadside service provider, focused on mis-fuelling.
To ensure the solution is widely available to fleets, Recharge Rescue will also be available on a B2B basis through fleet management firms, enabling them to augment their EV services and provide extra reassurance to drivers. A simple registration process will enable drivers to be onboarded as soon as possible.
Commenting on the new product, Bruce Compton, managing director AFF Holdings, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support such a helpful and relevant insurance product as Recharge Rescue. Never has there been a time before where people have required more reassurance to be able to transition into an electric vehicle and we are delighted to be playing a small part in helping to encourage this change.”
