UK energy provider, Ovo Energy, has just released a new smart-charging product that enables customers to charge their electric cars during off-peak hours, when energy prices are the cheapest. Partnering with Kaluza, an intelligent grid technology provider, Ovo Energy’s latest product should help customers save up to £350 a year.
To be eligible for the scheme, customers must connect their electric car or EV charger with an Ovo Energy account. Using the mobile app, they can select the time when the car needs to be charged, and Kaluza’s technology will automatically begin charging when the energy rates are at their lowest.
See also: Volkswagen UK, OVO Energy, and Kaluza Form INFLEXION Consortium to Launch V2X Solutions
Dubbed as “Charge Anytime”, this product’s name could be slightly misleading. The goal is to charge the EV at the most suitable times, rather than anytime, but the charging process is not limited to a specific timeslot. Therefore, in that sense, “anytime” does apply. The technology uses energy rates and the time the car can be plugged in to calculate when the battery should be charged.
Ovo Energy claims that its charge-at-home rates are three times cheaper than those of public chargers. Customers could enjoy rates as low as 10p per kWh. Savings obtained through “Charge Anytime” will be automatically deducted from the customer’s energy bill. The energy provider hopes that this new product will motivate more people to switch to electric mobility. In-house research showed that 68 per cent of UK drivers are reluctant to switch to electric cars due to high energy costs.
