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The place to talk about all things EV, from charging at home to questions about Charge Anytime

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322 Topic threads
J
New Member***
jzk841New Member***
Posted in Electric vehicles
Charge Anytime Add On- My car starts charging as soon as it's plugged in?

Hi, I recently signed up to the Charge Anytime Add on, I have a Supported Car Jaguar IPACE linked to a PodPoint solo3. I have linked my account, setup a schedule ready by 7am, min 25% Max 90% and all looks good.  However as soon as I plug the car in its starts charging.  its not beneath the Min of 25% its sitting at 50%. I was expecting it to start charging later tonight. Do I need to do anything else ? I have no schedules setup on the car or the podpoint as Im expecting the App to do that. Wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue? does it need to learn my charging pattern or something for a few days ?  Any help appreciated.  Thanks

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Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
1 year ago
W
Carbon Cutter****
WarrenmCarbon Cutter****
Posted in Electric vehicles
Best OVO Energy tariff / plan for charging my electric vehicle (EV)?

I am expecting my EV in November , I’m an SSE ENERGY customer, SSE have pointed me towards ZOOM EV for my EV tariff , they say I have to join OVO .. I’m not at home during the day so all my charging will be done overnight, the info I see is the tariff is set 24hrs a day at 16.7p KWH , I was hoping for an off peak discounted rate …. Can someone Please help, advise and ping me in the right direction if what to do that is the cheapest option thanks  

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T
Carbon Cutter*****
1 year ago
T
Carbon Cutter*****
TD12345Carbon Cutter*****
Posted in Electric vehicles
I have an EV and may switch soon- Any point getting Smart Meter installed?

i have an EV and my contract with OVO is up for renewal next month - I also only have electricity with OVO, due to having Oil instead of Gas so i’m not able to move onto OVO Drive !.Is it worth getting the meter installed with OVO if i end up having to move to another supplier?  or wait until i move and get them to install?

21510
nealmurphy
Carbon Catcher***
1 year ago
Jess_OVO
Retired Moderator
Jess_OVORetired Moderator
Posted in Electric vehicles
Electric Vehicles (or EV's) - We'd love to know what you think!Blog

Updated 07/12/23 by Abby_OVO With the important role they play in driving us towards a greener future, we’re proud to be part of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Find out about Charge Anytime our EV Add On…  The leap to a new way of driving can raise many questions which is why we’re building a community of in-the know-users, on hand to share tips and advice. From what to consider when choosing which EV to go for.  What it’s like to live with an EV.  To the best Apps to download once you’re on the road.  Already an EV owner? We’d love to hear from you! Help future EV owners by writing a review of your vehicle or charger. We’re on hand to give review-writing advice, just PM either @Tim_OVO, @Emmanuelle_OVO or @Abby_OVO, or check out the great reviews that have already been posted, like these:   Tempted by an EV but still got unanswered questions?  Join the conversation below...

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T
Carbon Cutter*
2 years ago
K
New Member*
kermitdafwogNew Member*
Posted in Electric vehicles
I'm looking for the best tariff- I have a solar battery charger without an EV?

HelloI am currently on Octopus Agile as Octopus wont allow me on their Go tariff as I dont own an EV.  This is not likely to change anytime soon so I am looking for other suppliers who offer off peak Tariffs which would allow me to charge my batteries overnight at a better rate than what I get during the day.  I have spent a fortune on my solar array in the belief that I would be allowed on off peak tariffs only to find I am unable to.  I hardly generate anything currently despite a 12KW installation with 9KW of batteries - I’d like to charge said batteries over night and consume that energy the following day! Does anyone know if other companies can offer me anything?thanksSam

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K
New Member*
2 years ago
N
Carbon Catcher**
Nick ChallacombeCarbon Catcher**
Posted in Electric vehicles
Can OVO help install an EV charger?

I have installed Solar Panels on my roof giving an output of 7.5Kwh, I am installing Batteries when they become available, chip shortage apparently. I would like asap to install an EV charger to power an EV i have on order. Do OVO help in any way.?  or do I just go out a buy one for my electrician to fit.Any help or guidance would be much appreciated as I am not very tech savvy. Thank you, Nick Challacombe

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T
Carbon Cutter*
2 years ago
E
New Member*
elPaulioNew Member*
Posted in Electric vehicles
Do OVO have an electric vehicle (EV) tariff that doesn't require a compatible charging point?

Hi all I will be getting an EV in a couple of weeks.I do not have a charge point for it, because it can run off standard mains sockets (trickle charge, and I can fast charge at work or round the corner at a dealership for free)Question:Do OVO have a tariff that doesnt require a compatible charging point?If they do, do you know what the tariff standing charges/price per kWh and the overnight prices/hours for it are please? I tried calling, but as you can imagine today, there are many people in the queue!Thank you in advance for an information you can send :)

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Tim_OVO
Community Manager
2 years ago
NinjaGeek
Carbon Catcher***
NinjaGeekCarbon Catcher***
Posted in Electric vehicles
Top EV Apps - Community GuideBlog

Updated on 23/06/23 by Tim_OVO: As well as this great user-created guide to EV apps below we’ve got some great info for prospective EV Owners here on the OVO online community.Why not check out the reviews our members have written about their EV wheels: ​​​​​​Or their top tips on what to consider before choosing which wheels to go for:  OVO are now fitting electric vehicle (EV) smart chargers.  The smart chargers we fit are compatible with OVO’s Charge Anytime add on, for super cheap EV charging any time of the day.  One problem being an EV Owner is knowing which apps are the best to download or for a new EV owner you may be thinking… Which ones do I need to install:thinking:First of let’s start with Zap mapZap map is a really useful app which allows you to view every charging point located in the UK. You can see if they are working by other drivers commenting and keeping you up to date. This app is available via iOS and AndroidiOSAndroid Plugshare works exactly the same as but doesn’t

108937
Tim_OVO
Community Manager
2 years ago
Jequinlan
Carbon Catcher**
JequinlanCarbon Catcher**
posted in Electric vehicles
Ever seen inside an Indra Vehicle to Grid (V2G) charger?

Well here is your chance.… Opened by a ChargedEv engineer in front of me (I didn't ask) while i finally have my replacement unit. @Transparent , @Blastoise186  thought you may in partuculat be interested. And yes, he left it opend like this in the rain too...

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Jequinlan
Carbon Catcher**
2 years ago
P
Carbon Cutter*
paladCarbon Cutter*
Posted in Electric vehicles
Which OVO EV plans can I access with an Easee EV charger?

Hi, I get delivery of an EV in March and got my EV charger installed (Easee One) last week. I’m like most members are on a Standard variable rate. I see that the OVO EV package requires a specific charger which I didn’t realise. The question is  can can I switch to an EV tariff using my Easee One and would it be cost efficient or should I stick to the standard variable? I do around 700-1000 miles a month, mostly local so will charge every so often but want to charge at the cheapest possible rate and don’t mind charging off-peak.

7697
nealmurphy
Carbon Catcher***
2 years ago
Gum168
Carbon Cutter*****
Gum168Carbon Cutter*****
Posted in Electric vehicles
One year on review - loving our BMW i3! Electric vehicle (EV) ReviewEV Review

Updated on 23/06/23 by Tim_OVO​: OVO are now fitting electric vehicle (EV) smart chargers.  The smart chargers we fit are compatible with OVO’s Charge Anytime add on, for super cheap EV charging any time of the day.  Considering making the change to an Electric Vehicle? Check out the great advice our community members have shared on what to consider when buying an EV over here.We’ve also got some great EV owner reviews like the one below and this Tesla Model 3 review. We bought our first EV in June 2017, so we are just over a year on. We have a BMW i3. I'll admit we wimped out a bit and got the rex (range extender), due to range anxiety. Turned out at should have saved the extra rex cost, as it's barely been used. We very quickly got used to checking where charge points are available. We haven't ventured from Yorkshire to London yet, but that's mainly due to the fact that we need a larger car to transport my elderly father and his wheel chair when there.We were keen to try electric, bu

14065
Jess_OVO
Retired Moderator
3 years ago
Jeffus
Plan Zero Hero
JeffusPlan Zero Hero
posted in Electric vehicles
Looking into getting an Electric van/campervan (EV) - anyone got any tips?

Has anyone got any experience of small electric vans?We haven't had a car for many years.Just have an 18 year old petrol little Suzuki Carry van that we have had since new converted into a micro campervan.

59925
Jess_OVO
Retired Moderator
3 years ago
Jequinlan
Carbon Catcher**
JequinlanCarbon Catcher**
Posted in Electric vehicles
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and thunderstorms - Is it safe/recommended?

Given the upcoming weather, and the fact all my ev charge plugs  and all public chargepoints all say "donnot use in thunderstorms" I was wondering:A) WhyB) What is the real riskC) Will anything prevent it actually chargingD) If you have a virtually flat battery in a storm, what should you do if you need to keep driving!E) Is it (more?)dangerous with a v2g?

569451
Tim_OVO
Community Manager
3 years ago
Transparent
Carbon Catcher***
TransparentCarbon Catcher***
Posted in Electric vehicles
An electric vehicle (EV) charging point installed at homeTutorial

Updated on 11/12/23 by Emmanuelle_OVO:Please be advised you must employ a qualified electrician to undertake the work outlined in this user-created guide. Given the cost/time requirements as well as the loss of smart charging benefits, OVO Energy would recommend a smart EV charger instead of a self-installed charger described below.Want to find out more about OVO’s EV plan? Check out this topic:   . As a new owner of an electric vehicle (VW ID3) I am well aware of the plethora of companies who wish to sell me a charger, such as OVO here. Each of them is apparently better than the previous one and comes with an array of bells and whistles . Most chargers are bundled into a package deal offering me cheaper rates and access to a thousand or more charging points across the country. So I need a home charger too, right? Wrong.  Despite its name, the ‘charger’ really only performs two functions: It can reduce the current available to the EV if required It allows the configuration of charge ti

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Transparent
Carbon Catcher***
3 years ago
P
Carbon Cutter*
Parikh27Carbon Cutter*
Posted in Electric vehicles
V2G charger not working - what does a solid red light indicate?

Hello, I had my trial V2G charger after 3 installation attempts on Thursday 27th February. It worked for an 1 hr or so and has not worked since, I have followed the reset steps suggested by support but no luck. On final try to switch on and off RCD the charger LED light turns RED and fan makes a loud noise it keeps doing that and the charger LED light does not change.    Did anyone else face same issues ? What was the resolution can Indra be contacted directly can they help ?   Any guidance would help me    Thanks  

40028
Transparent
Carbon Catcher***
3 years ago
L
Carbon Cutter***
lauratullochCarbon Cutter***
Posted in Electric vehicles
Switching back to OVO with an EV (electric vehicle) - What's the best plan for me?

We have an EV and are considering switching back to Ovo from Octopus Energy because:I remember Ovo being good at replying to customer messages and requests (I’m hoping this is still the case and would love to hear from current Ovo customers if this is still the case). Octopus Energy has been pretty dire in this respect. We have an EV and would like to consider using the home to grid option that Ovo is trialling at the momentReferring to the above, I’d love to know from Ovo and others about the following: can we still get a free home smart charger for our car? if so, which option has proved best for other users? There are three options. if it’s no longer free, will Ovo install it if we do not have off street parking? we are currently (comprehensively) renovating our home and am interested to know if Ovo or others can provide us with advice on whether to install the charger during the renovation or afterwards (ie: could our electricians do it or does installation require a dedicated Ovo

83819
Tim_OVO
Community Manager
3 years ago
E
Carbon Catcher*
EverythingNeedsAUserNameCarbon Catcher*
Posted in Electric vehicles
Is it possible to fit an EV charger in my garage if it's away from the house?

The garage where our cars are parked is about 4 metres from the house and Distribution Board. There is a standard 13 amp socket in the garage on a spur from the house. The garage is hardly larger than the cars, a golf estate and a polo.  The estate has to go nose in, the polo tail in, so as to be able to exit the cars in the small space between ever-widening car dimensions. We have solar panels on the house, which feed surplus into the grid, and an economy 7 tariff. Is it possible to fit one - and in future 2 - chargers in the garage? How much space is required around the cars to be able to connect to them - or is that a “how long is a piece of string?” question that depends on the specific model? Does the system allow for daytime charging using surplus from the panels, but otherwise only the night-time electricity?

1763617
Jequinlan
Carbon Catcher**
4 years ago
Delboy
Carbon Cutter***
DelboyCarbon Cutter***
posted in Electric vehicles
Check out my V2G (Vehicle to grid) installation with OVO Energy!

Updated on 24/05/22 by Jess_OVOOur Vehicle-to-Grid trial has now moved on to the next phase and is no longer accepting new participants.Check out OVO Drive our new Electric Vehicle (EV) tariff here. Not invested in an EV yet? Find out what our current EV owners would recommend when researching EV options!  I had my V2G installed yesterday so it's been less than 24 hours but here's what happened.The guys (5 of them) turned up on time and were really nice, and after a cup of tea they started work.As you can see there is a lot of kit and fortunately it didn't rain.A word of warning, these chaps can drink tea at an astonishing rate, make sure you have lots of tea bags and a reliable kettle ☺.The install took about 6 hours in total and they cleared away all the rubbish and left the place clean and tidy. Once the hardware had been installed and double checked for safety etc it was time for the big switch on.There seemed to be a communication problem between my unit and V2G control but once t

355528
Tim_OVO
Community Manager
4 years ago
L
Carbon Cutter*****
Leo MoranCarbon Cutter*****
Posted in Electric vehicles
Driving an Electric Vehicle (EV) in the winter - Top EV driving tipsBlog

​​​With the first frosts of the winter I’m reminded there will be a whole group of new EV owners who will not have experienced dark winter nights on the road and there are a few important things they need to remember.  :triangular_flag_on_post:Each winter drivers stuck in queues of traffic increasingly see EVs parked by the side of the road with no lights on and no hazards, giving the impression they have run out of fuel in their batteries...yet another bad advert for EVs against ICE cars…..but it can all be avoided with a little common sense. How does an EV actually work? The way a diesel or petrol car works is the engine runs an alternator which supplies the ancillary (12 volt) battery. Therefore when you see diesel or petrol cars stuck in traffic they will all have their engines running to stop the battery going flat. An EV works in a similar way...ish.An EV has a 12 volt ancillary battery, just the same as an ICE car which supplies power to the lights, radio interior light, heated

6195
E
Carbon Catcher*
4 years ago
G
Carbon Cutter***
GifCarbon Cutter***
Posted in Electric vehicles
Who should I contact to install an additional consumer unit for an Electric Vehicle (EV) charger?

Had an EV installer around today. Took a look around and decided it was too difficult to wire back to the existing consumer unit and the easiest option was to fit an additional CU in the meter box (the charger unit will be adjacent to it). He suggested that my supplier might be able to arrange it as the job would entail isolating the meter while the work was done. Is this something Ovo do or could arrange and if so how do I go about it? Chris

1138614
Transparent
Carbon Catcher***
4 years ago
E
Carbon Cutter*
Eyes0penCarbon Cutter*
Posted in Electric vehicles
Can I get my smart Electric Vehicle (EV) charger moved to my new home?

Hi all,  We are current EV Everywhere customers with a smart charger fitted in July 19. We are now moving house and need to figure out what do with our smart charger. Ideally we’d have a charger fitted in the new house but I don’t know if we transfer kit from old house to be house? If we don’t transfer the charger would there be an additional cost as we have already used the government grant with the first charger?  ThanksRebecca

71224
Tim_OVO
Community Manager
5 years ago
A
New Member**
ApplesNew Member**
Posted in Electric vehicles
What size are my meter tails? Getting a 100 amp fuse and need to know if tails are 25mm or 16mm for EV charger

Hi all,I had an OVO SmartMeter installed in 2017.We've just bought an electric car (a PHEV - a second hand Mitsubishi Outlander).To fit a charging point in our driveway I've engaged ChargedEV, who have forwarded the enquiry to UK Power networks to install a 100 amp fuse.In advance of that I need to identify if our meter tails and consumer unit tails are 25mm (rather than 16mm).As I understand it, OVO 'own' the meter tails.I (or at least a qualified electrician) 'own' the consumer unit tails.UK Power networks 'own' that fuse.How do I work out what size the Ovo meter tails they are?(And any advice on the same for the consumer unit connection welcome!)Many thanks, Neil 

47424
Amy_OVO
Retired Moderator
5 years ago

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