Andy's journey to a cleaner planet together with his Octopus EV

Andy: I’ve had a BMW ix50 for about 15 months. I cherished it as quickly as I noticed it. I knew I needed an electrical automotive as a result of I’ve all the time been involved about our family’s carbon footprint, and I imagine the planet wants folks to make small adjustments. Petrol and diesel costs are skyrocketing, and it is turning into unsustainable. So, when Octopus launched the wage sacrifice scheme, it appeared like a possibility to attempt an electrical car with out vital monetary threat.

I do know there are many good smaller electrical automobiles however we now have an enormous household of 5 and a pair of german shepherds, so we would have liked a bigger automotive with the vary and house to accommodate our household.

Andy: As soon as I made a decision to get an EV, I visited just a few dealerships to check drive and discover my choices. As an Octopus Vitality buyer already, it made sense to go along with them as I knew the customer support and communication could be glorious. The wage sacrifice scheme made it reasonably priced, and so they even put in the charging level at my dwelling free of charge.

Andy: I do not observe it exactly, nevertheless it’s considerably cheaper. Charging the automotive in a single day prices me only some kilos every week, whereas filling a petroleum automotive would value me round £100 to £150 per week! My mileage is round 15,000, so you possibly can think about the prices added up. Whereas, charging my automotive hasn’t actually made a distinction to my invoice.

Andy: We began with the usual Octopus Go tariff, which offered 4 hours of cheaper electrical energy in a single day. When the chance arose, I switched to the Clever Octopus Go tariff, which supplied much more reasonably priced charges, for six hours every evening. I exploit my automotive’s charging schedule to reap the benefits of the decrease charges, because it mechanically fees when its least expensive. General, it has been a easy and cost-effective transition.

All I do is plug my automotive in 2 or 3 evenings every week, and the tariff mechanically manages all the pieces else. I’ve additionally signed up for climate notifications so I do know what pockets of the day to reap the benefits of low-cost extra electrical energy technology.

Andy: Properly for starters, it is a quiet and peaceable drive. Though, the prices are the largest distinction as I am saving a lot. While we do plan forward a bit extra for longer street journeys, to ensure there are chargers alongside the way in which, it is largely a simple and seamless course of.

Andy: Sure, fairly just a few! We have taken some lengthy street journeys, like driving from North London to Cardiff for a weekend. You’ll find public charging stations throughout the UK and past, so it’s very doable. And because the infrastructure expands, that’ll get even simpler.

Sure, I’ve photo voltaic panels at my home, and I attempt to all the time be environmentally aware. Sustainability is one thing I actually worth at work, and in my each day life. I’m additionally contemplating exploring different inexperienced applied sciences, like warmth pumps. I want we had extra inexperienced vitality initiatives out there prior to now, nevertheless it’s by no means too late to make adjustments.

Andy: I feel it’s a no brainer. I respect the comfort it brings, and it aligns with my efforts to cut back my carbon footprint. I feel it’s a actually worthwhile funding in the environment. I’d do it another time!