A new era of affordable electric car ownership is dawning in the UK, thanks to Octopus Energy’s innovative Intelligent Drive Pack.
For a monthly fee of just £30, EV drivers can now access unlimited smart charging, potentially saving them hundreds of pounds annually compared to traditional petrol or diesel vehicles. This groundbreaking initiative aims to alleviate concerns surrounding the cost of powering electric cars and encourage wider adoption.
The Intelligent Drive Pack is broadly compatible – working seamlessly with nearly 280 different EV brands and home-installed chargers, all without requiring a specific smart tariff or home battery system.
Here’s what the Intelligent Drive Pack offers:
- Fixed Low Price: Enjoy consistent, affordable charging rates throughout the month for just £30.
- “Ready By” Times: Schedule your car to be charged between 4am and 11am, ensuring access to green energy at its most cost-effective.
- Significant Savings: Drivers using this service will spend roughly a fifth of what petrol car owners typically pay for fuel each month.
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Product Officer at Octopus Energy, highlighted the value proposition: “You can’t even get a nice meal out at a restaurant for £30 anymore – but you can get a whole month’s worth of driving.” She further explained, “Intelligent Drive Pack is a completely new way to save – perfect for drivers who want predictability, flexibility and great value rolled into one. It’s another step towards making electric cars the obvious choice for everyone.”
Octopus Energy already serves over 260,000 EV owners through its existing smart EV tariff, known as Octopus Go, which provides significantly reduced overnight charging rates leveraging green energy sources. To benefit from the Intelligent Drive Pack, customers must possess a working smart meter and be subscribed to either an Octopus Fixed or Flexible Octopus home energy plan.
“We’re offering this new Intelligent Drive Pack to make the switch to electric driving a no-brainer, with a fair, flexible solution for all types of drivers,” added Octopus Energy.
With electricity costs potentially as low as 7p/kWh for those on an Octopus tariff, charging an EV becomes considerably more economical than refueling a petrol or diesel vehicle. The UK currently boasts over 1.5 million charging points – located in homes and workplaces – according to data from Zapmap.
As the number of electric vehicles on UK roads surpasses one million and continues to grow, further reductions in charging costs are anticipated, solidifying the appeal of EVs for a broader range of drivers. Addressing concerns about charging infrastructure remains a key priority for manufacturers and operators aiming to remove barriers to EV adoption.
