Introducing the OVO
Vehicle-to-Grid Charger
Arriving this summer
Our new Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charger represents a huge leap towards a greener future. By pumping EV battery power back into the grid at peak times, the V2G Charger helps to reduce over-reliance on fossil fuels.
Get more from your EV
We'll credit you for any kWh exported, which could even save you enough to charge your car for free.
Using our intelligent algorithm, we can delay your EV’s charging to outside peak hours - when electricity is more likely to be cheaper and greener
Smart app
You’ll be able to control your V2G charger in more ways than one. For starters, you can set charging schedules with the option to override3 them for unexpected journeys. You’ll also be able to set minimum charge levels, and see live charging updates (i.e. when your car is discharging or charging) – so you’ll always be ready to go. Plus, keep a close eye on things by viewing your historical charging data.
Trial our charger for free!4
Your chance to shape the future
We couldn’t be more excited to hear what OVO customers think. And thanks to the government’s Innovate UK grant and our partnership with Nissan, we’re offering free entry to the trial, including installation: the first large scale trial of this technology in the UK.
Your feedback will make all the difference. It’s your chance to let the government know vehicle-to-grid is all it’s cracked up to be and then some.
To join our green revolution, register your interest here.
Handy information
Our Vehicle-to-Grid Charger (V2G) works by using an algorithm that always aims to charge when demand on the grid is low and energy is more likely to be cheaper. Then assuming you have sufficient charge, we’ll sell any energy you do not need back to the grid when demand is high and energy is more expensive.
At OVO we believe in clean and abundant energy for everyone. Which means we’re constantly looking for ways to increase our use of renewables and help solve the world’s energy problems using new technology. One of the biggest challenges we face right now is – how do we manage the demand of all the electric vehicles on the road without increasing our dependence on coal and gas power stations? We believe ‘vehicle-to-grid’ technology is one of the answers, and this is one of the biggest trials of it’s kind, so by being part of it you’ll be making a contribution towards a sustainable future.
The LEAF is currently the only EV we will be supporting as part of our trial. So you’ll need to drive one to take part. Any second generation LEAF (2013 onwards) is compatible.
But if you don’t own a LEAF, don’t sweat it. In future we plan to expand our V2G charger to more electric vehicles. And by registering your interest above, you can choose to hear about this and tons of other exciting EV offers and news.
OVO has been specially selected by the UK government to trial vehicle-to-grid technology in partnership with Nissan, Cenex and Indra. If you’re interested in all the nitty gritty details - this is all part of the government’s Vehicle-to-Grid competition, funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in partnership with Innovate UK.
So by joining the trial, you’re not just getting your hands on innovative EV tech first. You’re actually part of a government-backed initiative to help shape EV’s role in the entire energy industry. Go you.
The OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger is 520 x 210 x 690 mm. It weighs 17kg. And it can be installed indoors or outdoors.
We are working closely with Nissan to ensure that no battery degradation is caused by V2G charging beyond what would be expected from normal charging using a standard EV home charge point. We continue to work with Nissan to make sure that during our trial, your existing warranty will remain unaffected.
Terms & Conditions
1 If you exported energy to the grid from your vehicle every weekday between 4pm and 7pm, over a year, you could earn £274 (based on exporting power at 5.7kW, for 3 hours, at a net export price of 7p per kWh).
We estimate that the average annual cost of powering a Nissan LEAF would be £266.61 based on the following assumptions:
- Average annual mileage for a private vehicle: 7,500 miles. (Source)
- Nissan LEAF’s consumption of 4.2miles per kWh
- Unit price of 14.93p per kWh (being the price for an OVO customer on our Simpler Plan excluding regions 17 & 18 where the charger in unavailable)
(7500/4.2) x 0.1493 = £266.61
Therefore, using this example, the estimated average annual costs of £266.61 would be covered by the estimated export credits of £274.
All data and calculations are presented as at 05.04.2018
2 Subject to what you choose as the Vehicle to Grid charger's charging schedule,it will charge your vehicle battery with electricity from the grid when electricity is cheap and of a lower carbon intensity. The charger will discharge your battery when electricity is expensive and of a higher carbon intensity.
Electricity is more likely to have come from a renewable or green source, when carbon intensity is low. Carbon intensity is a measure of the grams of CO2 emitted in producing a kWh of electricity, which is usually lower for renewable or green sources of energy.
3 You can override your charging schedule at any time using the app, to get your EV charged as soon as possible.
4 Indra Renewables Technologies Limited (one of the OVO group companies) will own the charger throughout the trial. The charger will be installed at no cost to you (provided the installation is standard).
A standard install is when:
- You have off-street parking for your vehicle
- The charging installation point is no more than 10 metres from your fuse box
- The fuse box is RCD protected and has one other way to protect the outgoing circuit for the charge point.
- Cables can be surface mounted and clipped in directly.
- No groundworks are needed.
- The charge point can be fixed to your home and can use your home’s earthing arrangement (which must also comply with current regulations).