Charge Anytime only works with some chargers? What happens if I switch from OVO?

Foe neilmurphy, it may not be the energy crisis but I have contacted British Gas, EDF and Octopus and all have same message that they are not taking any switchers at the present time, they will contact me when the situation (crisis?) changes.

@cmccullie not quite correct, it was only worth switching if you wanted specialist tariffs such as EV tariffs or for better customer service, and you used to have to call to confirm the switch to ensure you were happy with what was being offered. Now it should be possible online. It certainly is with Octopus. 

We’re about to launch a revamped Charge Anytime in the coming weeks. This includes Direct to Vehicle functionality with the following makes and models of EVs. 

My advice is always to get the best deal that suits your needs. A type of use tariff allows you the flexibility to charge your EV whenever you need to. If you’re already with OVO and you’re looking at EV tariff options, my advice today is to wait a few more weeks till you hear about our market leading Charge Anytime works!

I received a “personal invitation…issued solely to very select people” to join “Charge Anytime” which would allow me to charge my EV at 10p per kW instead of my present 31.5p per kW. This appealed to me so decided to apply…only to fall at the first hurdle because, though almost every EV is mentioned in the list of eligible vehicles, the Nissan LEAF is not one of them. Also though I have an Indra V2G charger it is not one of the Indra chargers on the list……clearly I wasn’t the “very select people” I thought I was.

So I rang up to see why I couldn’t sign up and I’m a bit annoyed at the response.

I was told it was because I’m on the V2G scheme and I receive a credit for this which other people do not……and that is what annoyed me. Perhaps those looking in are missing something.

Over 3 years ago in order to join the V2G scheme I had to change from Economy 7 where I was paying 8p per kW night rate and 16p day rate to 15p all day. The credit I received per kW I exported paid both the cost of the initial purchase and adequately compensated for the 8p difference. Over time this credit has changed and now stands at reimbursing me for the initial cost of electricity plus 15p per kW. Ie, I pay 31.5p per kW which I import to my car and OVO give me 31.5p…plus 15p, ie 46.5p per kW for every kW I export. All I make is 15p per kW….but here’s the thing. In order to use v2g I have to pay £34,000 for the LEAF in the first place. The repayments are costing me the equivalent of 47p per hour, every hour, 24/7….which equates to how much OVO are crediting me per hour for using my battery to store their electricity, just for the time I’m exporting. I recently looked at the price of electricity and at 2am when my car was importing the market price of electricity was 24p per kW…which OVO was selling to me at 31.5p. At peak period I was then selling that electricity back to OVO for the same 31.5p plus 15p credit…..saving them the market value of electricity at £1.50p per kW. I’ve no problem with OVO taking a bit of profit but that’s not taking the profit….that’s taking the piss.

An owner of a Tesla, Ford, Land Rover, Mini or one of the other cars can import electricity for 10p per kW but my electricity costs 31.5p….ie just because I’m helping out The Grid I am having to pay over 3 times what they are…..the 15p not being a real credit but rent which I have to initially pay out to own the car, shouldering any risk for depreciation or damage to the car battery, car and charger with no risk on OVO.

There are people who’ve been forerunners for V2G, made sure their cars are connected to the charger to download at 6.6 kWh (about 4 hours) and then export at 3.3.kWh (About 6 hours) meaning that the car I paid £34,000 for isn’t available to use for 10 hours a day and OVO are turning their back on us and having a good laugh in the process…

I suspect that there are just over 100 people still supporting The Grid at peak periods….clearly OVO have made their money thanks to the Government grants and want to see the back of us…..otherwise why treat customers who’ve gone above and beyond to support OVO and The Grid the way they do.

Looking forward to moving across from Octopus once Anytime goes live. Good to see the Taycan on the direct to vehicle list. Octopus Intelligent still does not have it and I don’t want to buy a new charger and with a large domestic kwh usage their Go tariff does not offer much of a saving even if I assume I can shift some of my daytime usage to the Go off peak hours.

Any idea on timing for general rollout? I see that some of your existing customers are being invited to join Anytime

Hopefully soon! Keep an eye on this forum as it’ll likely get announced here as well as other places. :)

Hey @cmccullie,

I asked our specialist team about your query and they’ve responded:

Charge Anytime doesn't use the car's engine to read your charging data, it uses the vehicles API/ app software to record location data when you're charging at home. Currently Charge Anytime doesn't support Land Rover EVs but this isn't to say we won't in the future. Charge Anytime requires us to communicate with your EV and link it to our smart charging platform, Kaluza. To do this we need permission from the manufacturer to access the specific EVs API so we can see its location when charging from home. 

Currently only a select few have agreed this and can reliably send the data to our platform so we can provide you with accurate Charge Anytime credits. We don't have a timeline for future EV support right now as the product has only just launched.

We have your details registered so if things change we will be sure to let you know and get you signed up. You can view our current list of compatible EVs and chargers below. 

https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/charge-anytime-cars-and-chargers 

Thanks

Hi interesting to see previous reply where Taycan was not OCTOPUS list of cars eligible for EV tariff, I have the opposite, Land Rover is not on OVO list but is compatible with OCTOPUS, on checking it appears to use the same principle as OVO, that their app will tell the car to charge (assuming it is at home and plugged in), sure your boffins will explain why Jaguar and Land Rover- JLR - will accept OCTOPUS app but only the Jaguar app will work with OVO.

Anyway did my sums for January consumption and even with Octopus charging a slightly higher tariff for gas and electric if I was on OCTOPUS GO I would have saved £76, no brainier I think!