UK Only - Intelligent Octopus problems with latest update

[boltonmackem]

Has anyone had problems with IO since the late OTA update? After initial problems, I have had IO running pretty well. It sometimes takes twenty minutes to recognise that the car has been plugged in before the Octopus app creates a smart plan and takes control of the charge, but has generally been really good (and very cheap!). However, since the new update (4.2.2.2 on 8 Jan) my IO app isn't recognising that the car is plugged in at all!! I have had to disconnect and reconnect it twice in two days, running a test charge each time. Is this just me or have others had the same issue?

Sponsored

 

[wenklaw]

With all the IO problems being reported by Mach E owners, see the UK Ford forum, I would look to ditch Octopus IO Go unless you have a compatible charger. Seems ongoing and also very temperamental as to if the Mach E lets IO work as it should. Either switch to the Octopus Go (non IO) tariff or move to another provider that would be my advice. Ive been with OVO chargeanytime for 6 months or so, 7p a kWh seems to charge pretty much all times of day and night. Logs into your Fordpass app if you dont have a compatible charger (which i dont) but I havent had any issues or seen any reported. Syncs within minutes rather than the 20 mins you mention that IO takes.


https://fpcommunity.ford.com/t5/Cha...FNU1RVE1NfDY1NTN8U1VCU0NSSVBUSU9OU3xoSw#M1564

 

[Teslaeata]

Isn’t the Octopus EV rate for around 4hrs in the night?

If that’s the case, it’s more expensive than my 17p/kW off peak on Shell Energy rate because Octopus peak rate is expensive for the remainder of a full zero or near zero to 100% charge.

I can’t find an Octopus rate that provides 7p charge rate all day.

With respect to reliability, I need the full 7hrs of Economy 7 to fully charge Stangy without fail because when I get up to go to work Stangy absolutely has to be charged ready to go to work, no ifs or buts.

I’m not prepared to rely on some hooky unreliable IT and I can’t afford to be victim of temperamental charge point tech, and temperamental car tech, and temperamental Ford app, and temperamental energy provider app, and, and, and to each or all conspire against a prompt start to a day out working.

So, Stangy is just set to charge when plugged in and only ABB chargepoint manages the charge schedule, therefore I’m at the mercy of just one potential IT failure point; ABB charge point let me down only twice in over two and a half years of charging 3 to 4 times per week, and I’m not sure if wasn’t me who tripped up the charge process on those two occasions.

I suppose it’s horses for courses and unless you’re using an EV like I do or more, it matters not whether the car charges in one narrow window in the night or waits until the night after for low usage cars.

 

[Djmc321]

Isn’t the Octopus EV rate for around 4hrs in the night?

Yes & no. The nice thing with Intelligent Octopus is that it's entirely grid dependent. So in my experience if my local grid is under utilised then often I often get 8+ hours across all times of the day at low peak rates.

The main issue was I also lost direct car control, so I moved to controlling my Ohme charger instead. Fortunately, if anything I'm getting even better charging times than the car control.

The only thing I'm missing is the ability to just add the percentage I'm looking for because doesn't know the current charge amount of the car so can just add a fixed percentage amount. But with the extended Octo charge windows that's never been an issue so far.

 

[Teslaeata]

Sounds good in theory if my use was “normal” domestic private use but I can’t live with that! When I need charge overnight I must have it or I don’t work the next day, I can’t wait until the grid or Octopussy is ready to supply me power at a cheaper rate.

 

[wenklaw]

For those who are doing loads of miles per day maybe these smart ev tariffs won’t be suitable but for most average mileage owners they will. My Mach e does approx 125-150 miles per week and I use the granny charger and OVO charge anytime @ 7p kWh, not once have I been caught short. I am confident that even if I did 200-250 a week my setup would be fine. Add in a 7kWh charger to the mix and I really don’t see issues for even high mileage drivers.

Current usage according to the app is saving me approx £25-30 a month on the smart ev tariff as opposed to standard 25p kWh. Not a massive amount but once savings start to hit £60 plus it’s something I couldn’t ignore

And you can always override smart charging if need be via the app

 

[ocr_salty]

Isn’t the Octopus EV rate for around 4hrs in the night?

If that’s the case, it’s more expensive than my 17p/kW off peak on Shell Energy rate because Octopus peak rate is expensive for the remainder of a full zero or near zero to 100% charge.

I can’t find an Octopus rate that provides 7p charge rate all day.

With respect to reliability, I need the full 7hrs of Economy 7 to fully charge Stangy without fail because when I get up to go to work Stangy absolutely has to be charged ready to go to work, no ifs or buts.

I’m not prepared to rely on some hooky unreliable IT and I can’t afford to be victim of temperamental charge point tech, and temperamental car tech, and temperamental Ford app, and temperamental energy provider app, and, and, and to each or all conspire against a prompt start to a day out working.

So, Stangy is just set to charge when plugged in and only ABB chargepoint manages the charge schedule, therefore I’m at the mercy of just one potential IT failure point; ABB charge point let me down only twice in over two and a half years of charging 3 to 4 times per week, and I’m not sure if wasn’t me who tripped up the charge process on those two occasions.

I suppose it’s horses for courses and unless you’re using an EV like I do or more, it matters not whether the car charges in one narrow window in the night or waits until the night after for low usage cars.

Intelligent Octopus is 6hrs overnight on average, though that do extend this depending on the carbon intensity on the grid and if there is a need to balance it. I have had 8hrs overnight before and this is at mi night rate of 7.5p/kwh. This also applies to all the electricity in the house (which doesn't on OVO) so I can run the dishwasher, tumble dryer and any other electric intensive items for cheap for 6hrs overnight, everynight.

There were some initial issues with Intelligent and IO, but these have no been resolved as long as the user reads and follows the instructions.

 

[ocr_salty]

Sounds good in theory if my use was “normal” domestic private use but I can’t live with that! When I need charge overnight I must have it or I don’t work the next day, I can’t wait until the grid or Octopussy is ready to supply me power at a cheaper rate.

It doesn't work like that, you tell Octopus what % you need in the battery and what time for and they make sure it is charged for that time. Uses what's best for the grid if it can and then get your car charged to your requirements outside that if needed.

 

[Teslaeata]

It doesn't work like that, you tell Octopus what % you need in the battery and what time for and they make sure it is charged for that time. Uses what's best for the grid if it can and then get your car charged to your requirements outside that if needed.

? That makes more sense. If you charge outside O’s 3 or 4 hour period I thought was their off peak time do you get charged their off-peak rate?

 

[Teslaeata]

It doesn't work like that, you tell Octopus what % you need in the battery and what time for and they make sure it is charged for that time. Uses what's best for the grid if it can and then get your car charged to your requirements outside that if needed.

I read somewhere that Shell Energy which is who I’m with was due to shut its domestic energy supply business and moving customers to Octopus which maybe interesting.

 

[wenklaw]

I read somewhere that Shell Energy which is who I’m with was due to shut its domestic energy supply business and moving customers to Octopus which maybe interesting.

Shell Energy is now wholly owned by Octopus and Shell now no longer accept.new customers, what that means for existing Shell Energy customers only time.will tell but I imagine they will align tariffs at some point. Personally I would be looking now as it can take sometime to switch to a smart EV tariff due to the time it takes for.them to get your smart meters readings in real time.

 

[James III]

I use the intelligent octopus tarriff. but was never able to properly get the app working, even when it did connect before Ford shut off my FordPass account. for doing so.
Everyone knows about this and using a 3rd party API app. Ford says this is to protect our privacy.. I think everyone knows also that this is complete rubbish! Ford Smart mobility Limited, has contracted to sell all the data of our use of the vehicle, that we explicitly have to comply to in order to use most of the features available and sync 4a.
It’s all listed in their privacy of data disclosure in the fine print. so obviously they don’t want anybody stepping into that.
But the point is after lots of talk with Octopus management about this, they admitted that all electric use for anyone on the intelligent octopus tariff from 23:30 to 5:30 is charged at 7.5p kWh. So I use the FordPass app and set my charging from 00:00 -05:00. Sadly, FP App only allows times to be set on the hour..
So if I’m going on a trip, I may bend the rules by a half hour on either side or both.
But I also often take advantage of running the dishwasher on the timer the washing machine on a timer and even sometimes using the hot water immersion heater on a timer too. , 7.5p in electric is cheaper than using gas. on a 30 kWh boiler.
Come billing time, it all works out nicely and I get a pretty big discount. ?

Sponsored