Cheap electric overnight rates with no ev charger?
Discussion
We have our first PHEV, an xc90 with the 18kw battery.
Is there any companies offering cheap overnight charging (7p per kwh or similar) that you don't need to have an EV charger for?
We have a smart meter, an outside socket with timer, but our current provider, Scottish Power, only offer the cheap overnight rate of you have an EV charger - this despite the fact it's the rate for the whole house.
Do any companies offer this off peak cheap but without having to fork out a grand for a wall charger? Or if I simply say i have one is there any way they can tell?
Is there any companies offering cheap overnight charging (7p per kwh or similar) that you don't need to have an EV charger for?
We have a smart meter, an outside socket with timer, but our current provider, Scottish Power, only offer the cheap overnight rate of you have an EV charger - this despite the fact it's the rate for the whole house.
Do any companies offer this off peak cheap but without having to fork out a grand for a wall charger? Or if I simply say i have one is there any way they can tell?
I was originally on Octopus Go, with a Volvo PHEV and a granny charger plugged into a normal 13A socket. No problems at all, 8.5p for 5 hours for the whole house.
All I had to do was tell the Octopus website what car I had, and that I was going to use a dumb charger. It said I couldn't use Intelligent Go, but I could use "normal" Go.
It then let me start the switch to Octopus, initially onto their normal flexible tariff. After a few days, I switched to Go.
All I had to do was tell the Octopus website what car I had, and that I was going to use a dumb charger. It said I couldn't use Intelligent Go, but I could use "normal" Go.
It then let me start the switch to Octopus, initially onto their normal flexible tariff. After a few days, I switched to Go.
Zippee said:
Thanks both.
Does anyone know if you tell a prokaryotic and say you've an EV charger how they check?
My understanding is the low rate does also apply to anything used in the household over the specified time.
The Octopus Go tariff has no checking, anyone can move to it at any time. The Intelligent Go version does - you must link either the car or the charger to Octopus, and then perform a test charge where they control the charging. If they successfully control a charge, you can move to IOG.Does anyone know if you tell a prokaryotic and say you've an EV charger how they check?
My understanding is the low rate does also apply to anything used in the household over the specified time.
This can be heavily to your benefit, because at certain times the grid needs to dump power - usually on a breezy, bright weekend day when there are lots of cheap renewables available, and less industry using it. If your car has some spare capacity, you can plug it in and Octopus may offer you charging slots during the day time - you'll see the times in the app. If so, your whole house goes to 7p/kWh regardless of what you're doing. Last Sunday was a good one, I added a load of power to my car, did a several lots of washing, and got about half the cooking time of a lovely roast beef dinner done at cheap rates. I used 60kWh of power at an average price of 8.6p/kWh.
kambites said:
Nope, it's there for both tariffs now.
I only left Octopus 2 weeks ago for EON because it's 6.7p for 7 hrs per night. On Octopus Go, I wasn't asked to prove I had an EV (March 2024 to early May 2025). EON also state you 'must' have an EV, but they haven't asked for proof (I do have one 
).Quote:
What's the difference between Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go?
"The Octopus Go tariff works with any EV or charger and offers low charging rates within a 5-hour window.
Intelligent Octopus Go needs to connect with your car or charger and only works with selected brands. Once connected, Intelligent Octopus Go will automatically charge your EV at the cheapest times of the day."
Since some cars and chargers are not compatible with Octopus Go, I'm not convinced you couldn't just still go on Octopus Go and use a 3 pin plug.
What's the difference between Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go?
"The Octopus Go tariff works with any EV or charger and offers low charging rates within a 5-hour window.
Intelligent Octopus Go needs to connect with your car or charger and only works with selected brands. Once connected, Intelligent Octopus Go will automatically charge your EV at the cheapest times of the day."
Since some cars and chargers are not compatible with Octopus Go, I'm not convinced you couldn't just still go on Octopus Go and use a 3 pin plug.
Hmm, OK I was wrong.
I've just realised that the "Octopus Go" page is also-redirecting to the "Intelligent Octopus Go" page for some reason, for me! So I actually can't see what the requirements are for Octopus Go because the page wont load!
I did think it was weird that Go would need a compatible charger. Sorry for the false information!
I've just realised that the "Octopus Go" page is also-redirecting to the "Intelligent Octopus Go" page for some reason, for me! So I actually can't see what the requirements are for Octopus Go because the page wont load!
I did think it was weird that Go would need a compatible charger. Sorry for the false information!
essayer said:
For Go you need “an electric car and a home EV charger”
A PHEV and a mains/granny charger qualifies
If only that were the case with Scottish power.... going to cost me £100 to come out of contract early and swap providers. Free if I stay with them but then I need a wallboxA PHEV and a mains/granny charger qualifies
Rough101 said:
Do you have a smart meter?
If so Id just tell SP you have a charger, if they query it, just state that it s operating in load balancing mode and thus at under 3kW.
We do have a smart meter. If so Id just tell SP you have a charger, if they query it, just state that it s operating in load balancing mode and thus at under 3kW.
They don't need to link to the charger or anything? So telling them we have one should be sufficient?
Zippee said:
We do have a smart meter.
They don't need to link to the charger or anything? So telling them we have one should be sufficient?
Depends on the supplier.They don't need to link to the charger or anything? So telling them we have one should be sufficient?
It's certainly true with Octopus. You can even get onto Go without having an EV - just pick an incompatible car and a dumb charger from their list. As long as you use some overnight electricity for a house battery or heatpump, they will never know you aren't charging a car.
Zippee said:
We do have a smart meter.
They don't need to link to the charger or anything? So telling them we have one should be sufficient?
E.on Next Drive just asks if you have an EV - no questions about vehicle or charger are asked.They don't need to link to the charger or anything? So telling them we have one should be sufficient?
You get 6.7p/kWh from midnight to 7am for the whole house and a bit higher than normal during the day - about 27p
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