Octopus Energy launches ‘unlimited’ charging subscription
The subscription will be available as a bolt-on for Octopus Energy home customers with a standard Fixed or Flexible power tariff. Users need a smart meter and one of 280 compatible EV brands and home chargers. Once signed up, subscribers will be able to charge one EV during the provider’s ‘scheduled hours’, which it says will typically be overnight. Users will be asked to choose a ‘ready by’ time between 4-11AM, and Octopus’ smart charging system will prepare the vehicle for that time.
Octopus states that if customers want to charge outside of the scheduled hours, they will be given a ‘boost’ function on their app. This will charge the vehicle at the normal home energy rate outside of the £30 subscription fee – so, while the subscription will certainly make things cheaper, it isn’t quite ‘unlimited’ at all times of day. However, the company estimates that those on the subscription will pay two-fifths of what ICE drivers spend each month on fuel.
The Intelligent Drive Pack will sit alongside Octopus’ original EV tariff, Intelligent Octopus Go, which provides charging rates at £0.07p/kWh as well as six hours of reduced cost energy for the rest of the home. This tariff is already available in the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, New Zealand and the US, so it could be the case that the subscription offering could someday make its way over to these countries as well. Those already on the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff will be able to retain their existing service or choose to switch to the Intelligent Drive Pack.
In a statement, Octopus Energy’s CPO Rebecca Dibb-Simkin said: “You can’t even get a nice meal out at a restaurant for £30 anymore – but you can get a whole month’s worth of driving! Intelligent Drive Pack is a completely new way to save – perfect for drivers who want predictability, flexibility and great value rolled into one. It’s another step towards making electric cars the obvious choice for everyone.”
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