We subscribe to Spotify to listen to music without limits. We use Netflix to binge-watch series. Logic would dictate that we can do the same with the electricity of our electric car. This is exactly what Octopus Energy has been promising since September 17 with its Octopus Drive Pack. The call price? 29.99 euros per month. On paper, it’s a golden deal.
But be careful. There is a gigantic but.
It’s not a simple electricity subscription. It is a closed ecosystem. And the entry barriers are higher than a Parisian parking pole.
A jungle of technical constraints
Let’s start with the most obvious. This offer only concerns home charging. Forget public terminals or at work. You are therefore still dependent on the market of private terminal suppliers.
Then, accessibility is entirely relative. To be eligible, you need a Linky meter. If you live in a collective building, no. Period. No collective Linky, no offer.
Next comes the list of compatible vehicles. And there, the algorithm becomes ruthless.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) are all excluded.
Do you drive a Tesla? It’s happening. Renault? It’s happening. Volkswagen? It’s happening. Audi, Skoda, Cupra, some Fords? It’s happening.
Do you drive a Dacia, Peugeot, Citroën, Nissan? Hello, sir.
What about Chinese brands? Absolutely no compatibility.
Your charging station must also be compatible. No black magic. You need to check the specific model on the offer page. Octopus Energy lists approximately 280 supported models. If your terminal is not there, the offer is useless.
Who decides when to recharge?
This is perhaps the most psychological constraint. By signing up for the unlimited charging package, you give Octopus Energy the keys to your socket.
An algorithm will manage your schedules. For what ? To optimize two things:
1. The cost of electricity (it’s cheaper at night).
2. The network load (when it is less used).
You do not choose the charging start time. You just give a window. The algorithm starts when it wants, arriving at your target battery level between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m..
What if you force charging outside of these slots? You pay the normal rate. The subscription only covers optimized charging. So, if you have to charge your car at 8 p.m. because you come home late, you are out of the offer.
When is it really interesting?
After filtering the vehicles, the meters, the terminals and your algorithmic patience, one question remains: is it worth it financially?
The answer is mathematical.
The subscription becomes profitable if you exceed 750 kilometers per month.
In other words, if you are a heavy rider. If you have long daily commutes or frequent return trips, the guaranteed savings make up for the 29.99 euros.
Below
