Gavin and Stacey’s long-distance relationship price revealed forward of Christmas particular

OVO data experts have calculated how much it would have cost Gavin to drive to Barry in his petrol Citroen Saxo – and how much he could have saved by driving an EV

As the excitement builds for the much-anticipated Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, new data reveals just how much our favourite TV couple would have spent to keep their long-distance relationship going. Driving his classic petrol Citroen Saxo, OVO’s data experts have calculated that if Gavin was still making the 428-mile round trip from Billericay to Barry two to three times a month, he’d be shelling out a staggering £1,771 a year in petrol costs.

By opting for a greener alternative and switching to an EV, Gavin could slash his travel costs by 71% (£1,256), leaving him with more money to splurge on Christmas gifts. He might even have enough left over to help Nessa with her Christmas shopping, so she doesn’t have to gift all the family members a tap for another year running.

While Gavin and Stacey were dedicated to going the distance for love before getting hitched, the same can’t be said for everyone.

New research from OVO has discovered that on average, Brits would undertake a 324 mile round trip – the distance from London to Sheffield and back – two to three times a month to keep their long-distance romance burning. This equates to 9,337 miles a year at a cost of £1,535 on average for petrol or diesel cars, compared to a mere £420 for EVs using OVO’s Charge Anytime and Charge Anywhere.

However, just under half (45%) wouldn’t be willing to travel more than 100 miles for love. If Gavin had stuck within this confined radius, he would have only been able to search for romance in the Essex and south east areas – meaning he might have never met Stacey!

More than half (51%) agree that the cost of travelling would deter them from a long-distance relationship, but a similar number (49%) would consider switching to an EV to lower the expense.

Below, OVO has detailed how much main characters Gavin, Smithy and Uncle Bryn would spend driving between the West & Shipman homes vs how much they could save by switching to an EV. But it’s not just about financial savings, switching to an EV can drastically cut carbon emissions, making them better for both the wallet and the planet.

By transitioning, Gavin could have reduced the carbon emissions from his visits to Stacey by 2,406 kgs per year, as EVs produce next to no emissions. With Christmas just around the corner, OVO’s data found that the average Brit expects to travel 146 miles to visit friends and family over the festive period.

This is less than half the average distance they’d be willing to travel for a long-distance romantic rendezvous. While in a petrol or diesel vehicle, Christmas visits would cost an average £24, switching to an EV and using OVO’s Charge Anytime would make this 87% cheaper – costing just £3.12, the equivalent of 2p per mile.

OVO’s research has revealed that 40% of people are considering making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) within the next five years. Despite concerns about initial costs, with 51% hesitating due to upfront expenses, a whopping 61% admitted they’d be more inclined to invest in an EV if they knew it would be cheaper than petrol or diesel cars in the long run.

Moreover, 53% said they could be tempted by incentives like free miles. Alex Thwaites, Director of EV at OVO, remarked, “Gavin and Stacey’s romance has provided the nation with a lot of laughs but the travel costs they would have racked up over the years are no joke. Switching to an EV could have cut Gavin’s fuel bill by a tidy sum over the years, so whether you’re travelling long-distance for love or doing the rounds to see friends and family this Christmas, there are significant savings to be had. “

He added, “At OVO, we want to make it easier to do the right thing, whether you’re thinking about switching to an EV in the future or already driving one. Customers can bank thousands of free miles for their future EV through our Beyond rewards programme, while Charge Anytime powers electric cars from home for 2p per mile. We’ve also made it easier for any EV driver – not just our customers – to unlock discounted public charging of up to 15% with Charge Anywhere.”

For more information on how to accumulate up to 2,400 free EV miles with OVO Beyond and access lower charging rates at home and on the go with Charge Anytime and Charge Anywhere, visit www.ovoenergy.com/.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.