Discussion
Hi all, could anyone recommend the cheapest EV tariff? I see there's an Octopus thread running, is this deemed to be the best tariff?
I see they offer 6 hours cheap rate, but wondered if there are any better ones?
I have a new smart meter, but currently just on a standard (non economy 7 tariff) with British Gas.
Thanks for any advice.
I see they offer 6 hours cheap rate, but wondered if there are any better ones?
I have a new smart meter, but currently just on a standard (non economy 7 tariff) with British Gas.
Thanks for any advice.
One of the difficultues is working out the balance, often the rates with a much lower off-peak rate also have a higher peak rate, if you work from home then that increased day cost could vastly outweight the off-peak savings, especially if your mileage isn't particularly high.
Once a few people chime in with their suggested tarriffs, I'd take a look at your recent readings and try work out what the extra peak cost vs off-peak saving would net you.
Once a few people chime in with their suggested tarriffs, I'd take a look at your recent readings and try work out what the extra peak cost vs off-peak saving would net you.
I recently switched to octopus intelligent go and as you say the peak rates are 3p more expensive. Based on a 4000kwh annual consumption this works out at £120.
I am confident I can get this back via the cheaper overnight hours they have and also the extra hours via smart charging.
Also from memory, the Octopus standing rate is 2p cheaper than OVO for both gas and electric so there is a saving there too.
And just finish on, I probably would of gone to OVO instead of Octopus if I had a compatible car or charger.
I am confident I can get this back via the cheaper overnight hours they have and also the extra hours via smart charging.
Also from memory, the Octopus standing rate is 2p cheaper than OVO for both gas and electric so there is a saving there too.
And just finish on, I probably would of gone to OVO instead of Octopus if I had a compatible car or charger.
ok, so I've done some digging and thought I'd post my findings on here for everyones reference:
There looks to be 5 main players in this market - British Gas, EON, Octopus, OVO and Scottish Power, and whilst they all offer a similar thing, they're all slightly different. Here's my summary. Although I'm discounting the OVO one due to it's complexity and for some reason Scottish Power don't offer me they're tariff.
There looks to be 5 main players in this market - British Gas, EON, Octopus, OVO and Scottish Power, and whilst they all offer a similar thing, they're all slightly different. Here's my summary. Although I'm discounting the OVO one due to it's complexity and for some reason Scottish Power don't offer me they're tariff.
I'm an EV noob, but have recently moved from Scottish Power (variable rate) to OVO (variable rate) but with OVO Charge Anytime seems to be working a charm for us on our iX3....we're paying 'standard rates' for household electrical and gas, but a solid 80% charge (say 65-70kWh) on the car is only costing around £5-6.
Whilst the concept sounds confusing (it did me too), it isn't....you plug in the car as normal, tell the app when you need it ready by (default at 7am) and it works everything out itself....
No complaints here.
Whilst the concept sounds confusing (it did me too), it isn't....you plug in the car as normal, tell the app when you need it ready by (default at 7am) and it works everything out itself....
No complaints here.
I've been experimenting with Octopus Agile, where the rate changes every 30mins.
With 2 large battery EVs I'm generally able to take advantage of the super cheap / negative rates (windy nights) and as yet have not paid more than the cap rate as a daily weighted average.
It may work out a bit more expensive over winter, mind. Prices earlier this week were scary-high.
With 2 large battery EVs I'm generally able to take advantage of the super cheap / negative rates (windy nights) and as yet have not paid more than the cap rate as a daily weighted average.
It may work out a bit more expensive over winter, mind. Prices earlier this week were scary-high.
Eon NextDrive was the one I was looking at
I think it was 00:00 - 07:00 where it is 9p/kWh and then 32/kWh all other times.
That 7 hours is enough to get some slow-charge into the EV and we'd also just whack on washer/dryer/dishwasher overnight as well. Usage during the day wouldn't be that high really.
I think it was 00:00 - 07:00 where it is 9p/kWh and then 32/kWh all other times.
That 7 hours is enough to get some slow-charge into the EV and we'd also just whack on washer/dryer/dishwasher overnight as well. Usage during the day wouldn't be that high really.
audi321 said:
ok, so I've done some digging and thought I'd post my findings on here for everyones reference:
There looks to be 5 main players in this market - British Gas, EON, Octopus, OVO and Scottish Power, and whilst they all offer a similar thing, they're all slightly different. Here's my summary. Although I'm discounting the OVO one due to it's complexity and for some reason Scottish Power don't offer me they're tariff.
What is that Octopus one? Intelligent?There looks to be 5 main players in this market - British Gas, EON, Octopus, OVO and Scottish Power, and whilst they all offer a similar thing, they're all slightly different. Here's my summary. Although I'm discounting the OVO one due to it's complexity and for some reason Scottish Power don't offer me they're tariff.
I’m not sure of the ins and outs of Octopus but yeah these type of tariffs generally work like that and the car can smart charge at specific times.
The confusing one to me is the OVO one as it seems to me as if you can charge at anytime of the day, and the app works out somehow on a monthly basis what you’ve used to charge your car and credits you the next month for the difference between what you’ve paid and what the lower price is. Bit bizarre
The confusing one to me is the OVO one as it seems to me as if you can charge at anytime of the day, and the app works out somehow on a monthly basis what you’ve used to charge your car and credits you the next month for the difference between what you’ve paid and what the lower price is. Bit bizarre
Otispunkmeyer said:
I see. I haven't got a car or a wall box that is compatible with IO, but I assume you can still use the Tarif to get the 6 hours cheap leccy and just set the car manually to charge at the right times.
I don't think you can. As to join IO, it does a test charge with either a compatible car or charger. If you don't have either, then I'm not sure it will let you join.audi321 said:
I’m not sure of the ins and outs of Octopus but yeah these type of tariffs generally work like that and the car can smart charge at specific times.
The confusing one to me is the OVO one as it seems to me as if you can charge at anytime of the day, and the app works out somehow on a monthly basis what you’ve used to charge your car and credits you the next month for the difference between what you’ve paid and what the lower price is. Bit bizarre
We've used OVO anytime since it started and its been brilliant.The confusing one to me is the OVO one as it seems to me as if you can charge at anytime of the day, and the app works out somehow on a monthly basis what you’ve used to charge your car and credits you the next month for the difference between what you’ve paid and what the lower price is. Bit bizarre
The main difference is you only get the cheaper rate for your EV - nothing else.
You plug-in, set your departure time (say, 8am) and the app chooses when the best, greenest time to charge your car before your departure time. It'll use the excess capacity/greenest time to do it.
We get credited every month which you can track using the app. It's really not difficult at all.
Big Nanas said:
audi321 said:
I’m not sure of the ins and outs of Octopus but yeah these type of tariffs generally work like that and the car can smart charge at specific times.
The confusing one to me is the OVO one as it seems to me as if you can charge at anytime of the day, and the app works out somehow on a monthly basis what you’ve used to charge your car and credits you the next month for the difference between what you’ve paid and what the lower price is. Bit bizarre
We've used OVO anytime since it started and its been brilliant.The confusing one to me is the OVO one as it seems to me as if you can charge at anytime of the day, and the app works out somehow on a monthly basis what you’ve used to charge your car and credits you the next month for the difference between what you’ve paid and what the lower price is. Bit bizarre
The main difference is you only get the cheaper rate for your EV - nothing else.
You plug-in, set your departure time (say, 8am) and the app chooses when the best, greenest time to charge your car before your departure time. It'll use the excess capacity/greenest time to do it.
We get credited every month which you can track using the app. It's really not difficult at all.
Also, my standard electricity unit rate on OVO is 25.5p so I'm not sure where the 30p comes from above - perhaps it's regional?
chris116 said:
Cheers that’s much better than my homemade thing. I’m tempted by OVO despite its complexity. But according to this website it only works with 2 charger brands? Is that right?
https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/charge-any...
audi321 said:
Cheers that’s much better than my homemade thing.
I’m tempted by OVO despite its complexity. But according to this website it only works with 2 charger brands? Is that right?
https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/charge-any...
Correct, only works with Ohme or Indra chargers. I’m tempted by OVO despite its complexity. But according to this website it only works with 2 charger brands? Is that right?
https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/charge-any...
Which car do you have, is it compatible? If your car is compatible, then the charger is irrelevant.
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