Octopus launches UK’s first mass-market vehicle-to-grid tariff

Octopus Energy has launched the UK’s first mass market vehicle-to-grid (V2G) tariff, Octopus Power Pack, which charges the car with cheap, green electricity during off peak times, and exports back to the grid when it needs it most.

The company says EV drivers can save more than £850 a year in charging costs, while the tariff has the potential to unlock millions of electric car batteries as a power source for the grid.

The tariff, which is still in beta, uses V2G technology and Octopus Energy’s tech platform, Kraken, to balance charging and discharging when it’s best for the grid - charging up the car with cheap, green electricity during off peak times and exporting back to the grid when it needs it most.
 
Drivers need to is plug in their car for around six hours a day, with the rest of the process automated.
 
Octopus Power Pack is available to drivers with V2G compatible electric cars and chargers available in the UK.

There is currently only a limited number of models that have this capability, however, car manufacturers such as Volvo have made commitments to releasing V2G-ready models soon.
 
Alex Schoch, head of flexibility at Octopus Energy, said: "EVs are going to be a major lever in our future flexible, green grid, but to get there we need to unlock the capabilities of their batteries. Now we have Octopus Power Pack, it’s over to car manufacturers to build the cars that are compatible with V2G technology.”