Reduced/Lower EV rates from electricity charging

Magpies1

I was a Shell Oil customer when I was notified that Octopus were taking them over. I had ordered a plug in Hybrid the BMW X50e and I noted that Octopus had a reduced rate for EV;s, Once the transfer became effective I was told I would need a Smart meter so I arranged to have one fitted in early April and now as August closes it is still not working. An Engineer is coming to fit a second Gas meter  on 24th September but as they are getting readings for the electricity I have applied for the reduced EV rate. But on line response is my model is not supported by Octopus and they will let me know when it is. So I called Octopus to understand why the rate is model dependant. I was advised they are working with a number of car manufacturers and new models will be added gradually. But they are not working with BMW currently. So I have wasted several months yp get the reduced rate. As I understand the process you have to be a customer of a utility provider before you can get access to their EV rates. Does anyone know how to find out if the X5 BMW is covered by a provider before you jump ship? 

Keep_pedalling

You can still switch to Octopus Go which will give you 5 hours of cheap electricity between 00:30 and 05:30 which is more than enough for a plug in hybrid. You only need a compatible car or charge point to get Intelligent Octopus Go. 

Grumpy_chap

Magpies1 said:

I was a Shell Oil customer when I was notified that Octopus were taking them over. I had ordered a plug in Hybrid the BMW X50e and I noted that Octopus had a reduced rate for EV;s, Once the transfer became effective I was told I would need a Smart meter so I arranged to have one fitted in early April and now as August closes it is still not working. An Engineer is coming to fit a second Gas meter  on 24th September but as they are getting readings for the electricity I have applied for the reduced EV rate. But on line response is my model is not supported by Octopus and they will let me know when it is. So I called Octopus to understand why the rate is model dependant. I was advised they are working with a number of car manufacturers and new models will be added gradually. But they are not working with BMW currently. So I have wasted several months yp get the reduced rate. As I understand the process you have to be a customer of a utility provider before you can get access to their EV rates. Does anyone know how to find out if the X5 BMW is covered by a provider before you jump ship? 

If the car is not compatible with the Octopus solution, then you can install a charge point that is compatible.

born_again

Magpies1 said:

I was a Shell Oil customer when I was notified that Octopus were taking them over. I had ordered a plug in Hybrid the BMW X50e and I noted that Octopus had a reduced rate for EV;s, Once the transfer became effective I was told I would need a Smart meter so I arranged to have one fitted in early April and now as August closes it is still not working. An Engineer is coming to fit a second Gas meter  on 24th September but as they are getting readings for the electricity I have applied for the reduced EV rate. But on line response is my model is not supported by Octopus and they will let me know when it is. So I called Octopus to understand why the rate is model dependant. I was advised they are working with a number of car manufacturers and new models will be added gradually. But they are not working with BMW currently. So I have wasted several months yp get the reduced rate. As I understand the process you have to be a customer of a utility provider before you can get access to their EV rates. Does anyone know how to find out if the X5 BMW is covered by a provider before you jump ship? 

You need to get one of the 3 wall boxes that are compatible, OHME, Zappi & Wallbox. Making that the connection to Octopus for charging the car.

Which is a far better connection than any car API which are prone to stopping working when they get upgraded by manufactures.

Suppliers such as Octopus do have compatibility lists.

https://octopus.energy/smart/intelligent-octopus-go/

Petriix

You can get Octopus Go without a compatible car/charger that Intelligent Octopus Go requires. I only recently switched from the former to the latter once my charging point became compatible.