Ecotricity logotype
/Our news/2018/Electric vehicle case study

Our news

Article tags
Article tags
  • transport
  • electric highway
Browse archives
Our news

Power to the EV people

Press enquiries

If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact our Press Office by email at pressoffice@ecotricity.co.uk

For all other general enquiries, please call 01453 756 111 or email home@ecotricity.co.uk.

By Jess Saunders
9 Mar 2018
Power to the EV people - Image 3

We’ve got some pretty amazing customers at Ecotricity. As well as choosing green energy, there are those who go a whole lot further too – a real driving force behind the green revolution. We launched the Electric Highway in 2011, creating the UK’s first motorway network of charging points for electric vehicles. It’s now possible to drive from Lands End to John O’Groats! With three hundred electricity pumps across the country, the drive for zero emission motoring is really gaining speed. We caught up with one of our EV and energy customers, who told us what he does to green up his world.  

By Rob Cooling

My name is Rob and I’m an enthusiastic driving instructor in Nottingham. I specialise in teaching pupils with special or specific needs. I teach in an electric car powered by renewable energy supplied by Ecotricity.

I’m an Ecotricity customer because as a family we have a strong passion for environmental concerns. We’ve been inspired by the rise in renewable energy and electric cars (which are amazing). We also like Ecotricity as a company; they present themselves very well and we love the easy-going lack of contract - it’s a good vibe.

We’ve been customers for a year or more now and have no plans to leave: we’re very happy.

I’ve been a driving instructor since 2004. From 2011, I began focusing on teaching pupils with diverse special needs.

I switched to automatic last year and this led me to my first electric car, which has been a brilliant experience. It made sense to find an energy company that invested in renewable energy so Ecotricity became our choice to power our electric cars. We have one for business use and one for family use. Between lessons I occasionally use the Ecotricity rapid chargers to top up and find myself constantly talking to curious passers-by who are fascinated by the new technology.

At home, sustainability is playing an ever-increasing role in our family. The kids learn about it at school too. We try to minimise waste, maximise recycling and are increasingly conscious of how we spend our money. We don’t necessarily buy the cheapest, but are more interested in the ethics of the places we visit and purchase from.

I am very passionate about encouraging others to become sustainable. Through driver training magazine articles, conferences and podcasts, I’ve been pushing the benefits of renewable energy and electric cars. I think the best way is to lead through example and hopefully everyone else sees how awesome it is! It seems to be working.

I think the simplest step to becoming sustainable is to change energy provider to one that supplies from a renewable source. It’s such an easy thing to do and the more of us who do it, the more it dilutes the fossil fuel industry. Beyond that, it becomes an addictive mindset and makes its way through to everything else you do, including how you spend your money and the kinds of foods you buy.

It’s with people like Rob on board that we continue to be a driving force for green energy. Our customers’ bills enable us to build new sources of green energy, further helping to combat climate change by moving away from fossil fuels. You too can become one of the people powering the green revolution – take the wheel and switch today

Similar articles

allplants join the plant-powered revolution – and they have a treat for new Ecotricity customers!

This month, we’re proud to partner with allplants, the pioneers behind ready meals with a difference. Not only are we partnered with them, but we’re also powering their kitchen!

More
Manifesto book with long shadow

Get the book!

Manifesto out now

Shop
Dale Vince portrait with bandana

Zerocarbonista.com

Our founder Dale Vince shares his thoughts on the green revolution

Explore the site

Don’t just take our word for it…

Ecotricity is recommended by
Ethical Consumer Best Buy logo
  • Our story
  • Our mission
  • Our manifesto
  • 28 years of Ecotricity
  • Ecotricity innovation
  • Walking the talk
  • Our partners
  • Our news
  • Your green energy
  • Ecotalk
  • Solar power export
  • Smart meters
  • Britwind
  • Carbon Footprint Calculator
Ecotricity logotype

Climate Clock

The Climate Clock is a version of the Doomsday clock that has been running since 1947 - this tracks the risk of global man-made disaster, through man made technology (like nuclear weapons) - displaying the minutes and seconds left before midnight, when disaster strikes. The climate crisis is a small part of the calculations made.
The climate clock uses a similar approach, but, focuses only on the climate crisis - which is the biggest and most urgent existential threat we face.
"The Climate Clock is a countdown to the biggest man-made disaster we face - but also a measure by which we can track our progress - moving from fossil to renewable energy. It shows we have no time to lose - the clock is ticking…" Dale Vince, OBE.