- Energy agency Octopus says drivers can get free charging with its Power Pack deal
- But the deal has strings hooked up, together with a scarcity of appropriate automobiles
Electric car homeowners might cost their motors up without spending a dime with a brand new power deal from Octopus Energy – nevertheless it solely at present applies to 3 automotive fashions.
The Power Pack deal might save drivers greater than £850 a yr in comparison with charging automobiles on a variable-rate electrical energy tariff which is topic to the Ofgem worth cap, Octopus mentioned.
The deal utilises ‘car to grid’ expertise, which permits EV homeowners to discharge electrical energy from their autos again into their houses or the National Grid.
Drivers who signal as much as the Power Pack deal can cost with low cost electrical energy at off-peak occasions after which export it again to the grid when it’s most wanted.
Giving again: V2G expertise permits EV homeowners to discharge electrical energy from their autos again into their houses or the National Grid
By shopping for electrical energy low and promoting it excessive, drivers successfully get to cost up without spending a dime, as much as a restrict of round 12,000 miles a yr.
Octopus says all drivers should do is plug their automobiles in to cost for round six hours a day, with the remainder of the method being automated.
However, there are solely three EV automobiles that may work with Power Pack. These are the Nissan Leaf, Nissan e-NV200 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Anyone excited by Power Pack might want to have an present Octopus Energy deal, as Power Pack acts as a bolt-on, not a separate deal.
Eligible houses may also want a Wallbox Quasar 1 V2G charger, a sensible meter and permission to export power to their native distribution community.
The Power Pack deal will work with further EVs sooner or later, offered they’re appropriate with the CHAdeMO fast-charging system and are in a position to discharge electrical energy, Octopus mentioned.
Octopus Energy head of flexibility Alex Schoch mentioned: ‘EVs are going to be a significant lever in our future versatile, inexperienced grid, however to get there we have to unlock the capabilities of their batteries.
‘Now we have now Octopus Power Pack, it’s over to automotive producers to construct the automobiles which can be appropriate with V2G expertise.’
Customers can register curiosity in becoming a member of the tariff through this on-line type.