Octopus energy now supports Porsche for intelligent tariff.

[n3ophyte]

I’ve been using Intelligent Octopus Go with their “Smart Charging” disabled; relying instead on a manually created profile and timer set via the MyPorsche app. This is working fine but obviously limits cheap charging to the 23:30 - 05:30 overnight window.

I’m curious how much “extra“ cheap rate energy outside this 23:30 - 05:30 window I may be missing out on. Do Octopus list the extra cheap rate periods they‘ve provided anywhere?

Sponsored

 

[Matt W]

I’m now a week in, having tried to persevere with OI controlling the charging. It’s doing my head in, sometimes works perfectly, other times missing charges. I’ve now disabled the smart setting and charge using the cars timers (as lots of forum members recommend). No stress and works fine, albeit I may be missing out on some cheap ‘extra’ electric, but I’d rather not go to bed every night wondering if the car is going to charge or not.

 

[n3ophyte]

I’m with you Matt. But the FOMO on cheap charging is quite compelling. That’s why I’d like to quantify it

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I’m with you Matt. But the FOMO on cheap charging is quite compelling. That’s why I’d like to quantify it

How much “expensive” electricity are you using. If the answer is none (or close to that) then you aren’t missing out on anything. If you frequently use higher rate electricity for your car then it is worth looking into

 

[n3ophyte]

How much “expensive” electricity are you using. If the answer is none (or close to that) then you aren’t missing out on anything. If you frequently use higher rate electricity for your car then it is worth looking into

66% cheap rate and 33% “expensive” rate currently. But I’m having to use a granny charger on a 3-pin plug as my Zappi installation is an 8 week wait. For me it’s more about extending the cheap charging window to offset the feeble trickle charge I’m forced to use.

Regardless, I’d still love to know how often and for how long Octopus exceed the cheaper 23:30 - 05:30 window.

 

[MrB]

66% cheap rate and 33% “expensive” rate currently. But I’m having to use a granny charger on a 3-pin plug as my Zappi installation is an 8 week wait. For me it’s more about extending the cheap charging window to offset the feeble trickle charge I’m forced to use.

Regardless, I’d still love to know how often and for how long Octopus exceed the cheaper 23:30 - 05:30 window.

Hi there,

The short answer in my experience is you can’t ever really know in advance. You’re not pre-notified of any peak/off-peak periods. In my specific use case, with an Ohme Home Pro EVSE, the app on my phone will send a notification the minute a car is plugged in to the EVSE detailing the windows it’ll charge in according to their assessment of low demand on the grid.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

66% cheap rate and 33% “expensive” rate currently. But I’m having to use a granny charger on a 3-pin plug as my Zappi installation is an 8 week wait. For me it’s more about extending the cheap charging window to offset the feeble trickle charge I’m forced to use.

Regardless, I’d still love to know how often and for how long Octopus exceed the cheaper 23:30 - 05:30 window.

It is an interesting question- but will be irrelevant when you have a 7kW EVSE. My wife’s LR used to use a bit on a 2kW supply but didn’t need to. I don’t think their algorithm or implementation is great

 

[n3ophyte]

The short answer in my experience is you can’t ever really know in advance. You’re not pre-notified of any peak/off-peak periods.

Yes, I appreciate I won’t be notified in advance. I was simply looking for a reason to try Octopus smart charging schedules again.

Anyhoo, I decided to re-enable Octopus smart charging this afternoon. After a 30 minute pause the car started charging at around 3pm; well outside the cheap rate 23:30 start time. Presumably Octopus think demand is low this afternoon so are giving me cheap leccy ?

This is the smart charging schedule Octopus have put in place for today …

 

[bn8959]

I’ve been using Intelligent Octopus Go with their “Smart Charging” disabled; relying instead on a manually created profile and timer set via the MyPorsche app. This is working fine but obviously limits cheap charging to the 23:30 - 05:30 overnight window.

I’m curious how much “extra“ cheap rate energy outside this 23:30 - 05:30 window I may be missing out on. Do Octopus list the extra cheap rate periods they‘ve provided anywhere?

I’ve plugged in mid afternoon yesterday and today and both times cheap rate was mapped from when I plugged in right through to 8am.

yesterday it started 4pm!

 

[n3ophyte]

I’ve plugged in mid afternoon yesterday and today and both times cheap rate was mapped from when I plugged in right through to 8am.

yesterday it started 4pm!

Yep, I’ve been charging (slowly) on the cheap for most of the afternoon?

I notice your Charging Preference stipulates “Charge to add +100%” whereas mine stipulates “Charge limit 85%”. Is that because you have a smart charger and I have the dumb Porsche Mobile Charger+ I wonder?

 

[bn8959]

Yep, I’ve been charging (slowly) on the cheap for most of the afternoon?

I notice your Charging Preference stipulates “Charge to add +100%” whereas mine stipulates “Charge limit 85%”. Is that because you have a smart charger and I have the dumb Porsche Mobile Charger+ I wonder?

Mine is set to integrate with my Zappi EVSE (support only just released). As the charger doesn’t know the current SoC you can’t set a limit - you can only set a percentage to add. I set it to add ‘100%’ (to encourage Octopus to give me the longest charging window), then use a Profile to limit it to what I want (85%).
If you integrate with the car, then you can limit specifically in IO settings.

I found the car integration very unreliable. Zappi integration is much better (and I swear I get far longer charging windows too!).

 

[n3ophyte]

Mine is set to integrate with my Zappi EVSE (support only just released). As the charger doesn’t know the current SoC you can’t set a limit - you can only set a percentage to add. I set it to add ‘100%’ (to encourage Octopus to give me the longest charging window), then use a Profile to limit it to what I want (85%).
If you integrate with the car, then you can limit specifically in IO settings.

I found the car integration very unreliable. Zappi integration is much better (and I swear I get far longer charging windows too!).

That’s great feedback, thanks Ben ?

 

[MrB]

Yes, I appreciate I won’t be notified in advance. I was simply looking for a reason to try Octopus smart charging schedules again.

Anyhoo, I decided to re-enable Octopus smart charging this afternoon. After a 30 minute pause the car started charging at around 3pm; well outside the cheap rate 23:30 start time. Presumably Octopus think demand is low this afternoon so are giving me cheap leccy ?

This is the smart charging schedule Octopus have put in place for today …

My apologies, I wasn’t intending to come across as trying to teach you to suck eggs! It works very differently for me due to my choice of EVSE so the Ohme app handles it all on behalf of OI.

 

[pdavison]

What percentage charge can I expect if charging between 11.30pm-5.30am? My car arrives in a few weeks and I'll be switching to OI and have an Andersen 7kw charger.

 

[MrB]

What percentage charge can I expect if charging between 11.30pm-5.30am? My car arrives in a few weeks and I'll be switching to OI and have an Andersen 7kw charger.

All a bit “wet finger in the air here” but assuming it goes at full pelt you’ll be being sent around 7kwh per hour but I’d wager some of this will be lost via charging losses in the system and potentially to heat in the battery also. At a guess, something in the order of 35kwh, perhaps, so whatever percentage that is against whether you have the normal battery or the higher capacity one in your new car. In my case with the larger capacity battery, something around 35% or thereabouts.

Sponsored