Do Overnight EV Tariffs Exist Anymore?

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owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

Hi all,

I got my ID3 on Wednesday, just in time for the electricity tariff rises! :-)

I wondered if there are actually any suppliers that still offer lower-priced night rates for EVs?

Mine is currently 19p/kw, going up to 38p at the end of April.

Based on 38p, an 8-hour charge from my 7.3kw charger is likely going to cost me £24, and as a company car driver, I'll probably be charging at least 3 times a week.

This isn't a million miles away from my diesel costs.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

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Utumno
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Post by Utumno »

Octopus Go. Switch to Octopus Flexible then when the smart meter is confirmed as having meter readings just email them and change to Go.
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steve
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Post by steve »

I use Bulb's EV tariff, which I started on 2 or 3 weeks ago. About to go up but currently about 25p in the day and 7.4p 2am-6am.
Last edited by steve on Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
sidehaas
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Post by sidehaas »

Like Utumno said, you can try to switch to Octopus Go... although on the off chance you can't do that for some reason, then at least ask your current supplier to go on their flexible tariff, which will be price capped and therefore no more than 28p/kWh until October. This is still expensive but significantly cheaper than 38p/kWh. Your current supplier has to offer you a flexible rate on or below price cap rate when your current deal runs out, they cannot force you to take a more expensive fix.
ID.3 Family Pro Performance (Jan 22), Makena Turquoise / East Derry alloys. Ohme Home Pro charger.
MotMot
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Post by MotMot »

I’ve been on OG for 5 days now - and the switch was easy. As utomo said above you Move to a octopus tarrif for a few days then to go. You’ll need to have a SMETS2 smart meter though…
ItshardtobuyId3
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Post by ItshardtobuyId3 »

steve wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:50 pm I use Bulb's EV tariff, which I started on 2 or 3 weeks ago. About to go up but currently about 25p in the day and 7.4p 2am-6am.
Are Bulb taking on new customers at those rates? The tax payer is keeping that company afloat and it’s basically state owned. Switching to Bulb might be a way to give oneself a tax cut 😂
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owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

Thanks, that's interesting as British Gas said my tariff would be 38.1p/kw. I'll challenge that.

I did look at Octopus, but online I see you cannot register, you have to call them.

Thank you.
sidehaas wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:51 pm Like Utumno said, you can try to switch to Octopus Go... although on the off chance you can't do that for some reason, then at least ask your current supplier to go on their flexible tariff, which will be price capped and therefore no more than 28p/kWh until October. This is still expensive but significantly cheaper than 38p/kWh. Your current supplier has to offer you a flexible rate on or below price cap rate when your current deal runs out, they cannot force you to take a more expensive fix.
owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

Thanks all. Very helpful.
van
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Post by van »

Not sure I understand your arithmetic. 8 hours of 7kw would take you from 0-100%. Assuming your diesel car probably has twice the range, are you saying you can go from vapour empty to completely full for £48? Are you using red diesel?

Apart from that bear in mind that Octopus cheap rates are typically for 4 hour period. If you really need to charge for 8 hours (?) it won't all be at the cheapest rates.

VW recommend working between 20 and 80% of charge, which would be around 5 hours at 7kw.

Perhaps I've misunderstood?

PS please also factor in all the crap that won't be coming out of the exhaust 🙂
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owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

Yes, I got that wrong! :-) A newbie who hadn't really given too much thought to duration. My smart meter was telling me this evening that the electricity was costing me £1.47 an hour to charge, and tonight I charged for 4 hours.

I still think it'll cost me about £200 a month. My company only gives me 5p per mile back, for business miles. They did get the charger installed FOC though.
van wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:06 pm Not sure I understand your arithmetic. 8 hours of 7kw would take you from 0-100%. Assuming your diesel car probably has twice the range, are you saying you can go from vapour empty to completely full for £48? Are you using red diesel?

Apart from that bear in mind that Octopus cheap rates are typically for 4 hour period. If you really need to charge for 8 hours (?) it won't all be at the cheapest rates.

VW recommend working between 20 and 80% of charge, which would be around 5 hours at 7kw.

Perhaps I've misunderstood?

PS please also factor in all the crap that won't be coming out of the exhaust 🙂
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Utumno
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Post by Utumno »

You can definitely switch online to Octopus but they do try as hard as possible to warn the hard of thinking about tariffs over winter. I know this because a few people have used my referral code and that’s an online process!

So continue to get a quote online from Octopus would still be my recommendation. You’ll need a SMETS2 meter if you haven’t already, and when the switch is complete just move to Go.
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CANCELLED : ID.3 Tour (long story :lol:)

ID3 Build & Delivery Info Tracker : https://tinyurl.com/id3tracker
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owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

I've tried, but I get this...

Screenshot 2022-03-25 at 22.42.49.png

Utumno wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:30 pm You can definitely switch online to Octopus but they do try as hard as possible to warn the hard of thinking about tariffs over winter. I know this because a few people have used my referral code and that’s an online process!

So continue to get a quote online from Octopus would still be my recommendation. You’ll need a SMETS2 meter if you haven’t already, and when the switch is complete just move to Go.
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Utumno
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Post by Utumno »

Also if you get 5p/mile back from your employer and your average efficiency over a year is 270Wh/mile (which should be easily achievable as an average over the year, and is drawn from ev-database) then it’s pretty easy to work out your break-even price per kWh.

Hint : 18.52p/kWh.

So if you can be predominantly filling your traction battery in the Go 4h window at 7.5p/kWh you’ll easily cover your costs.
Tesla Model Y Long Range
CANCELLED : ID.3 Tour (long story :lol:)

ID3 Build & Delivery Info Tracker : https://tinyurl.com/id3tracker
Octopus Referral : https://share.octopus.energy/aqua-foal-203
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Utumno
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Post by Utumno »

owlservice wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:44 pm I've tried, but I get this...

Screenshot 2022-03-25 at 22.42.49.png
Utumno wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:30 pm You can definitely switch online to Octopus but they do try as hard as possible to warn the hard of thinking about tariffs over winter. I know this because a few people have used my referral code and that’s an online process!

So continue to get a quote online from Octopus would still be my recommendation. You’ll need a SMETS2 meter if you haven’t already, and when the switch is complete just move to Go.
Damn them, a family member switched online only yesterday!!

Might have to be a phone call 😣
Tesla Model Y Long Range
CANCELLED : ID.3 Tour (long story :lol:)

ID3 Build & Delivery Info Tracker : https://tinyurl.com/id3tracker
Octopus Referral : https://share.octopus.energy/aqua-foal-203
owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

Thanks for your insights. I'll give them a call on monday. Thank you.
Utumno wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:48 pm
owlservice wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:44 pm I've tried, but I get this...

Screenshot 2022-03-25 at 22.42.49.png
Utumno wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:30 pm You can definitely switch online to Octopus but they do try as hard as possible to warn the hard of thinking about tariffs over winter. I know this because a few people have used my referral code and that’s an online process!

So continue to get a quote online from Octopus would still be my recommendation. You’ll need a SMETS2 meter if you haven’t already, and when the switch is complete just move to Go.
Damn them, a family member switched online only yesterday!!

Might have to be a phone call 😣
sidehaas
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Post by sidehaas »

owlservice wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 11:02 pm Thanks for your insights. I'll give them a call on monday. Thank you.
Utumno wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:48 pm
owlservice wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:44 pm I've tried, but I get this...

Screenshot 2022-03-25 at 22.42.49.png

Damn them, a family member switched online only yesterday!!

Might have to be a phone call 😣
We were unable to switch to Go online in December/January despite being Octopus customers already. Had to call two separate phone numbers - it was definitely set up to be a bit difficult. However we got there eventually.
Ask about the £90 credit for being a VW ID customer too. I'm not sure exactly what the eligibility criteria are but we got it in January. With a new car you should too (after transferring to Go.)
ID.3 Family Pro Performance (Jan 22), Makena Turquoise / East Derry alloys. Ohme Home Pro charger.
gfoldys
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Post by gfoldys »

do you claim tax relief on the other 40 p per mile?
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-emplo ... e-for-work
owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

I wasn't aware I could do that with my company car? I work for a company, not self-employed.
gfoldys wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:42 am do you claim tax relief on the other 40 p per mile?
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-emplo ... e-for-work
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Utumno
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Post by Utumno »

owlservice wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 12:59 pm I wasn't aware I could do that with my company car? I work for a company, not self-employed.
gfoldys wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:42 am do you claim tax relief on the other 40 p per mile?
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-emplo ... e-for-work
You can claim tax relief on that also, though obviously the rates are different between company provided vehicles and personally owned vehicles. There’s an online checker you can use on HMRC’s website.

Worth a look.
Tesla Model Y Long Range
CANCELLED : ID.3 Tour (long story :lol:)

ID3 Build & Delivery Info Tracker : https://tinyurl.com/id3tracker
Octopus Referral : https://share.octopus.energy/aqua-foal-203
owlservice
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Post by owlservice »

Thanks, I'll take a deeper look. I could only see it mention fuel when I had a brief look.

I'll call Octopus tomorrow regards tariffs. i wonder if they'll honour your referral, that is if they take my custom! :-)
Utumno wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:06 pm
owlservice wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 12:59 pm I wasn't aware I could do that with my company car? I work for a company, not self-employed.
gfoldys wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:42 am do you claim tax relief on the other 40 p per mile?
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-emplo ... e-for-work
You can claim tax relief on that also, though obviously the rates are different between company provided vehicles and personally owned vehicles. There’s an online checker you can use on HMRC’s website.

Worth a look.
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