Trying to understand how to set up my EV with Charge Anytime

Hi @BPLightlog, thank you for the response. I agree with your assessment that conflicting apps will usually cause problems, and that’s exactly what I am here to resolve.

My apologies for perhaps not being clear in my original post. It’s not easy to put everything into words sometimes when I’m already in a state of confusion.

I had meant that the Cord One smart charger is (according to Cord’s website) compatible with the Ovo Charge Anytime tariff, but I do realise it’s not supported by the Charge Anytime app.

The Monta app is Cord’s recommended solution for managing the charge point, which I am guessing I must have due to the Charge Anytime app not providing support for that.

My EV, a Toyota RAV4 PHEV, is supported by the Charge Anytime app, and that’s how I set it up, When I installed the CP and joined the Charge Anytime tariff, I was under the impression that I was required to also install the Charge Anytime app, but now I am uncertain on that.

I have been running with both apps fighting to control the smart charge scheduling for some time. It has functioned ok (mostly), so I never worried too much about it. However, as I mentioned above, I have now signed up to the Power Move Flex option with Ovo, and I feel I need to understand my setup better for that to function correctly. Hence my questions.

So, should I…

A. Remove one or other of the apps? My feeling is I should remove the Charge Anytime app and let the Monta app handle the scheduling using the ‘Smart’ charge option.

Or...

B. Retain both apps and set the Monta app to charge immediately when the car is plugged in, allowing the Charge Anytime app to control the scheduling? I’m worried that doing this may incur additional cost for charging at peak times though.

Thank you to anyone who can assist further with my understanding so I can choose the correct path.

Ok @Agent57 , that’s why I gave a link to the step by step guide.

• How to set up a compatible electric vehicle with Charge Anytime Tutorial

It says

“To use Charge Anytime just set the ‘Ready By’ time on the clock face of the app, plug the car in and leave it until the time that you’ve set. “

then

“Avoid setting any other instructions on your vehicle or charger. Just set the ‘Ready By’ time in Charge Anytime and leave it until the time you’ve set. “

If you’re still unsure, you can contact the team on chargeanytime@ovoenergy.com 

Thank you again @BPLightlog.

I have read the tutorial and much more, but it’s not really answering my questions adequately enough to help figure out what the optimal setup is.

I have contacted support at Monta, Cord and Ovo. The response from each has been to shrug it off with the same general uncertainty and advise me to contact the support at somewhere else.

I was hoping I might do better here.

Hey @Agent57 

I wanted to double check all of this with the Charge Anytime team who confirmed that Cord One is not a compatible charger.

You should be using the Charge Anytime app with your Toyota. However please note that Toyota is still in a public beta trial, also noted on the full compatibility list online.

You can view the full terms for the Charge Anytime vehicle unlock trial here.

Hope this helps.

Hi @Abby_OVO, thank you for your assistance.

I am aware that the Charge Anytime app does not support the Cord One charger, and already have that set up with the car. Please can you clarify for me, are you saying that the charger is also not compatible with the OVO Charge Anytime tariff, even though it is claimed to be compatible according to Cord’s website?

Following on from that, the next question is what does this mean with regard to whether I need both apps installed?

If so, should I configure the CP controller app (Monta) to always charge?

If the Monta app is always telling the CP to top up the charge, how does this affect the smart off-peak Charge Anytime tariff price vs. the always plugged in requirement with OVO’s Power Move Flex option?

My apologies, but I still have a lot of unanswered questions to work through  : (

Perhaps a basic outline might help you @Agent57 

With a compatible EV (yours is in beta trial mode at present), the Charge Anytime app links to the vehicle and tells it when to ask your charger to charge - the Charge Anytime system tries to use the greenest slots of energy to charge your vehicle by your ‘ready by’ time. You should only be using the Charge Anytime app for control. 
There may be a setting in your charger control to allow the vehicle to ask for a charge when required. This needs to be set up and left. 
 

As mentioned earlier, Charge Anytime can work with a compatible charger OR compatible EV. You are using the later. The charger manufacturer are misleading you in saying their charger is compatible as it depends on the vehicle connected. You may need more info from them

I agree completely with this. I went to the Cord web site and took a look - it does indeed say it’s “compatible”, but this is NOT the same as saying that it integrates with Charge Anytime. 

Currently only as Indra, Ohme and Hypervolt chargers do.

By “compatible” they simply mean that the Cord charger won’t prevent Charge Anytime from charging a car that’s on Charge Anytime’s supported cars list from charging, under the control of the Charge Anytime app.

“Monta” looks like another red herring in this regard. It may well do all sorts of interesting things, but it also doesn’t integrate with Charge Anytime and setting schedules in it will almost certainly interfere with the correct operation of Charge Anytime.

Hey @Agent57, 

Both @BPLightlog and @MikeyB have offered some great points and advice here. I took a look as the others did on the Cord website and although not explicitly clear I believe what they’re referring when they say “compatible” is that their chargers allow for schedules to be set. 

I’d suggest using the Charge Anytime app and removing any other apps that may cause conflicts with schedules. If you have multiple they’ll all fight for priority and you’ll likely encounter issues trying to charge or complete the setup. The Charge Anytime team are around at 0330 175 9678 (Option 1 new customers/option 2 existing customers) or chargeanytime@ovo.com if you need any help. 

I hope this helps!