UK power utility Octopus Energy has linked with EV manufacturing giant BYD to launch the Power Pack Bundle, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) package.
Unveiled at this week's 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.
Octopus says that, with free charging, 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 is designed to make these savings easy for customers. Drivers simply plug in overnight, with the fully automated process guaranteeing free charging at home for every mile driven during the lease.
Octopus says 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.
The energy supplier adds that it is uniquely placed to lease the cars, having launched its own EV business, Octopus Electric Vehicles (Octopus EV), in 2021. Octopus EV has grown to become the largest EV-only leasing business in the UK.
Octopus and BYD have also partnered with UK leasing company 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.”
Stella Li, executive VP of BYD, said: “BYD is fully committed to making intelligent, innovative, sustainable technologies available to our customers, and this project will allow them to unlock the full potential of electric vehicles – not just as transport but as dynamic assets that can play a key role in supporting the grid.
“Together with Octopus Energy, we’re enabling EV owners to play an active role in the energy ecosystem, reducing costs and increasing the resilience of renewable power systems.”
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.
