I am considering an EV, when it arrives, I will consider Octopus Go to have cheap electric at night time.
Is it possible to set the system to top up the battery at the cheaper rate for use through the day.
In winter the battery never generates enough to fill it, it makes sense, if possible, to accept electric from the grid at cheap rate and use from the battery through the day.
Can this be done?
Inverter Model
GIV-HY3.6
Software Version
D0.450-A0.451
Paul
Hi Paul - yes - lots of people are doing it just that. Some factors to consider:
1) The Invert size. If possible, go for the 5kW so you don't limit the charge and discharge rates to the batteries.
2) Battery size. You'll need enough capacity to run you house. Without solar, you may need 2x9.5hW batteries.
3) If you are not installing solar at the same time, you'll pay VAT, if you are installing solar, no VAT on the whole install.
4) You can go onto GO without an EV i.e. if one is "in the pipes". If you have an EV, Intelligent Octopus (IO) is possibly better but you will actually need the EV to set it up.
There are many other options including ones that support generous tariffs, but the above covers the basics.
Hi @4monks
I have the solar system installed, been in since April last year
Inverter Model
GIV-HY3.6
Software Version
D0.450-A0.451
I have a 5kW solar system with an 8.2kW battery back-up. In November, December and January, the amount generated was minimal as we would expect, this is why I was looking at the feasibility to import energy into the battery at night at 7.5p kWh, as against the 28.85p kWh cost through the day; as well as charge the EV when it arrives.
I realise on the new tariff, the kWh charge is 1.75p more expensive through the day, and the daily standing charge is 2.3p per day higher but the saving that can be made by filling the battery at night in winter far out weights those additions.
PJT Hi Paul - that's correct. You can switch to GO now even though the car is not here and import at 9.5p. If/when you switch to IO when you actually have the car, you can import at 7.5p. The bonus of the latter is you get a 6 hours low price window, and if the car charges during the day, the whole house and the car run at 7.5 for that charge time. On balance, GO now might work well for you if you don't want to get into automation. That said, In theory, in sunny months, you should easily be topping you battery to full before the sun goes down unless your background usaage during the day is very high.
Exporting electric is good in summer, with no need to top up the battery. Since April I am getting £64 per month back on average, June was a record month, I got £90.55 credit back to my account. Part of July and this month have been terrible for cloud cover but my overall average is £64 per month.
So I think now is the time to suss everything out and do the maths, autumn may be a good time.
As for the car it has just been ordered, and waiting could be 6-9 months.
Thanks for your help it is really appreciated.