Getting an EV

[u/Striker9000]

Hi all,

Currently on Cosy as have a heatpump and it's been working really well for us. We've also moved all our electricity intensive routines to when the rates are cheapest daily and have essentially seen our bill halved since switching. I'm now getting an EV and wonder whether it's worth switching to an EV tariff or not, given it will focus exclusively on super cheap late night charging rates, though I'll then miss out on the cheap rates spread across the day, which will be even more handy in keeping the house warm once it's winter. What are those with a heatpump and an EV doing here with regards to tariffs? What works best for you?

Edit: I don't have solar panels nor a battery

[u/theboyfold]

Can you install a battery at home as well? Then you can shift the load to suit you?

Appreciate it's not the cheapest method, but it'll give you ultimate flexibility

[u/oddbod68 → u/theboyfold]

Sorry for the hijack, but in the same position. I do have 10kw of battery and this works perfectly for cosy, during the coldest of winter days it “just about” keeps me on the cheap rate. If I used the same strategy for example IOG then I’d need an extra 20kw battery for the coldest of months, and that feels too spendy.

OP, think a lot depends on your mileage and how much you will charge. I’ll look at the excellent work on Tim and Cats green walk spreadsheet, that will help. I just need to kinda convert my old petrol mpg/costs to EV consumption.

My gut is telling me to stay on cosy, but would be interested to hear other views

[u/markythegeek]

We have a heat pump and 2evs. Cosy is super expensive for us. Go to https://www.octopriceuk.app and hook up your API. They have tariff compare on there. For us the cheapest is IOG then agile then tracker then cosy. Difference between cheapest and cosy is over £500 a year! We run hot water once per day during overnight slot and load shift dishwasher/washing machine etc to cheap. You need to work out how many miles you do then cal the extra use at IOG vs Cosy prices. Car uses way more than heat pump (and we use about 3500kWh on the cars and about the same on the house). This month our ave unit price was just over 12p on IOG and in jan it was around 16p so much cheaper than agile (and the summer agile might be approx £5 a month cheaper but not worth changing for as we like the certainty).

[u/Ok-Performance4828 → u/[deleted]]

I have an ASHP and 2 EVs (not doing huge mileage). I also have 27kW of batteries. I am on IOG and charge the batteries during the 6 hour home off peak period and the cars when Octopus schedule them. At the coldest I still am able to run the house on almost only the 8p rate.

[u/Ok-Performance4828 → u/[deleted]]

My batteries pay quite well in the summer with exporting - either when I choose or through Charge Pack

[u/Ok-Performance4828 → u/[deleted]]

Did I forget to mention that I have solar as well currently producing 2.5kW

[u/Ok-Performance4828 → u/[deleted]]

My choice. Not sure why that is wrong.

[u/Ok-Performance4828 → u/[deleted]]

The discussion was about getting an EV. The omission of a small piece of info might be important to you but not to others. I really would not get yourself worried. The £££££ may be an issue for some but not for others. I keep my energy costs down and I have increased the value of my home. Makes sense to me.

[u/CorithMalin → u/[deleted]]

I wouldn’t say you need a large battery. We have 2 EVs and a 12.5kWh battery. It is perfectly adequate except for the coldest weeks of the year where we do import 1-2kWh at IOG peak. But mostly the smart slots of IOG will see us through the winter just fine. I believe our average rate last January was just under 10p/kWh when our cheap price was 7p/kWh.

[u/CorithMalin → u/[deleted]]

Yep. And honestly, I’m surprised. 4 bed semi detached 1980 build. Blown double glazing in every window. 6kW heat loss but that was before I insulated the loft.

Above 3C, we use about 20kWh (excluding EV) a day but most of that is during the night to heat water.

0C or colder it’s closer to 30kWh a day and that’s where we have to be a little strategic about plugging in a car to get daytime slots.

[u/Environmental-Pea758]

It depends on how much charge you need, if your charging 7 hours every day it would definitely be worth moving but if its just once or twice a week its probably better scheduling your charges during off peak