Octopus Energy has joined forces with BYD to launch the Power Pack Bundle – the UK’s first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bundle.
Unveiled today at Octopus Energy’s Energy Tech Summit, the Power Pack Bundle – priced at under £300 a month – will include a leased V2G-ready BYD Dolphin, a bi-directional Zaptec Pro charger and access to a smart tariff that offers completely FREE home charging.
With free charging, Octopus says that typical EV drivers can slash their annual bills by £620 compared to charging on a standard tariff – and save nearly £1000 compared to fuelling a petrol car*.
V2G transforms EVs into ‘batteries on wheels’, allowing them to charge when electricity is cheap and send it back to the grid at peak times when electricity is expensive. This reduces the grid’s reliance on dirty fossil fuel plants, without hampering the car’s main job of getting from A to B.
Powered by Octopus Energy Group’s tech platform, Kraken, the Power Pack Bundle makes these savings effortless for customers. Drivers simply plug in overnight and let the tech do the rest. The fully automated process guarantees free charging at home for every mile driven during the lease.
This is the first time V2G technology is built into the car itself, eliminating the need for a costly first-generation V2G charger. As more V2G-ready vehicles hit the road, hundreds of thousands of EVs could soon act as mini power stations.
Octopus is uniquely placed to lease the cars, having launched its own EV business, Octopus Electric Vehicles (Octopus EV), in 2021.
Octopus and BYD have also partnered with Motability Operations to make the V2G technology available to disabled people across the country, ensuring low-cost electric driving is accessible to all.
Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy Group, said:
“Bi-directional charging is the game-changer for drivers and the grid. By using some of the battery’s spare capacity to help balance the grid, we can offer free driving. V2G is going to revolutionise our energy system and help drive costs down.”
What is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology?
With V2G your car acts as a mobile battery. Soaking up power when there’s less demand for energy, and exporting it back to the grid, to power your home and others’, when there’s more demand (like when everyone puts the kettle on when they get home from work).
A typical V2G driver could save £620 compared to charging their car at home on a standard variable tariff.
How the Octopus Power Pack tariff works
Automated charging, both ways
Octopus Power Pack schedules your V2G charging and exporting. Plug your car in and tell Octopus how much charge you need, and by when.
The tariff will automatically schedule your car to charge when energy is greenest, and then export back to the grid when it needs help.
Works alongside your existing tariff
Power Pack is an add-on tariff that sits alongside your usual home energy tariff.
You’ll continue paying for your home energy use, but your EV charging will be free. It works with most Octopus Energy tariffs, but not Tracker, Agile (import or export), or Intelligent Octopus tariffs.
Andrew Miller, Chief Executive of Motability Operations, said:
“It’s great to see V2G technology becoming available at scale – effectively turning EVs into energy assets that can help power homes and support the grid. For our customers, this could mean significantly lower energy bills and an even more affordable route into electric driving.”
“We’re proud to be part of a partnership that’s not only breaking new ground in energy, but also ensuring the benefits are accessible to disabled people across the UK.”
The Power Pack Bundle will be available later this year. Interested customers can be the first to get their hands on the tech by placing a reservation with Octopus Electric Vehicles.
