Intelligent Octopus Go: Solar + EV Charging

What makes Intelligent Go different from standard Go?

Standard Octopus Go gives you a fixed 4-hour cheap window (00:30–04:30). You schedule your EV to charge during those hours and that's it.

Intelligent Octopus Go takes a different approach. You hand over control of your charging schedule to Octopus's smart platform, and in return you get:

1. A longer guaranteed cheap window — 23:30 to 05:30 (6 hours vs 4)
2. Bonus cheap slots — throughout the day and evening, whenever the grid has surplus renewable energy or wholesale prices drop, Octopus extends the cheap rate to your charger
3. Smart scheduling — you tell the app "I need 80% by 7am" and it figures out the cheapest way to get there

In practice, many Intelligent Go users report getting 8–12 hours of cheap-rate electricity per day, not just the guaranteed 6. Those bonus slots add up to significant savings.

How the smart charging works

Here's the daily flow:

You set your preferences:

• What time you need the car ready
• What charge level you want (e.g., 80%)
• Whether you want to override and charge immediately (for unexpected trips)

Octopus does the maths:

• Calculates how many kWh are needed
• Identifies the cheapest half-hour slots between now and your departure time
• Sends charge/pause commands to your charger or vehicle throughout the night

The result: Your EV is ready when you need it, charged at the lowest possible cost. The system might charge for an hour, pause, charge again at 2am, pause, then finish at 4am — whatever pattern uses the cheapest electricity.

Compatible chargers and vehicles

This is the main barrier to entry. You need either a compatible smart charger or a compatible vehicle:

Compatible chargers (most common route):

• Ohme Home Pro and Ohme ePod
• Myenergi Zappi (v2 with hub)
• Wallbox Pulsar Plus
• Indra Smart PRO
• Hypervolt Home 3.0
• Easee Charge

Compatible vehicles (direct vehicle integration):

• Tesla Model 3, Y, S, X (via Tesla API)
• BMW i4, iX, and various PHEV models
• Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.5
• Various other models — check the Octopus app for the current list

If your charger is a basic "dumb" unit without smart connectivity, you can't use Intelligent Go. You'd need to upgrade to a compatible charger or use standard Go instead.

Intelligent Go + solar: the optimal setup

When you combine Intelligent Go with solar panels, the energy economics become exceptional:

Daytime: Solar panels power your home. Any surplus charges your home battery or diverts to your EV if it's plugged in (via Zappi's solar mode or similar).

Evening: Home battery discharges to cover your needs. EV charging waits for the cheap window.

Overnight (23:30–05:30): EV charges at 5.5p/kWh. Home battery tops up at 5.5p/kWh. Any bonus cheap slots extend this window.

Bonus slots: On days with high wind or solar generation on the grid, Octopus gives you extra cheap-rate hours. Your EV and battery soak up this cheap electricity whenever it's available.

The combination of free solar, cheap overnight imports, and bonus slots means your effective average electricity cost can drop below 10p/kWh across all consumption — including EV charging.

Real savings: Intelligent Go vs standard Go

For a household doing 8,000 miles/year in an EV (~2,400 kWh):

Standard Go (4-hour window at 5.5p):

• EV charging: 2,400 kWh × 5.5p = £132/year
• All charging must fit in 00:30–04:30

Intelligent Go (6+ hours, bonus slots):

• EV charging: 2,400 kWh × ~5p average (thanks to bonus slots) = £120/year
• Charging spread across optimal windows, less battery stress

The EV cost difference is modest (£12/year), but the real benefit of Intelligent Go is the bonus slots applying to all your consumption during those periods — not just EV charging. If your home battery also charges during bonus slots, the savings compound.

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Setting up Intelligent Go

1. Confirm compatibility — check the Octopus app or website for your charger/vehicle
2. Join Octopus Energy — switch your supply if not already a customer
3. Install the Octopus app — this is where you manage your charging schedule
4. Link your charger/vehicle — follow the in-app instructions to connect your hardware
5. Set your charging preferences — departure time, target charge level
6. Select Intelligent Go — switch to the tariff from your account dashboard

The setup typically takes 15 minutes once you're an Octopus customer with a compatible charger.

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Intelligent Go vs Flux for solar + EV

Both tariffs suit solar households, but they optimise for different things:

Intelligent Go optimises for: cheap EV charging

• Best for: heavy EV users, long commutes, multiple EVs
• Export rate: basic SEG (you'd sign up separately)
• Battery strategy: charge overnight cheaply

Flux optimises for: peak export income

• Best for: large solar systems that export a lot
• Export rate: premium peak-time rates built in
• Battery strategy: charge from solar, export at peak

If your EV is your biggest electricity consumer, Intelligent Go edges ahead. If your solar system generates significant surplus and you want to maximise export income, Flux is better.

Some households run Intelligent Go for electricity import (including EV charging) and a separate export tariff like Agile Outgoing for exports. This gives you cheap imports and variable high-value exports — the best of both worlds, though it requires more management.

Tips for getting the most from Intelligent Go

1. Plug in every night — even if your EV doesn't need a full charge, plugging in lets the system use bonus slots whenever they appear
2. Set realistic targets — don't request 100% every night. Most EVs prefer staying at 80% for battery health, and lower targets give Octopus more flexibility to find cheap slots
3. Let solar charge during the day — if your EV is at home during the day, a Zappi in solar mode adds free solar kWh before the overnight session
4. Combine with a home battery — the cheap overnight rate applies to everything, not just EV charging. Fill your home battery too
5. Check the app for bonus slot patterns — over time you'll notice when bonus slots tend to appear (often early evening or mid-afternoon on windy days). You might spot patterns that help you schedule other tasks

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