Volvo electric vehicle drivers can now enrol directly in a smart charging plan from within the Volvo Cars app, energy software business Kaluza announced on 13 November 2024. The plan is OVO's Charge Anytime, and Kaluza described the arrangement as a world first1.
Drivers who sign up can charge at any time for 7p/kWh, with Kaluza's software shifting charging to cheaper and greener times1. As a special offer, Volvo drivers also receive 2,700 miles of free charging for enrolling1. Enrolment is handled by linking accounts inside the app, so no separate smart charging app is needed1.
"Volvo EV (electric vehicle) drivers can now directly enroll in an electric vehicle smart charging plan and enjoy a seamless experience all within their vehicle app."
Nicole Melillo Shaw, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said the partnership with OVO and Kaluza would help customers maximise the benefits of electric car ownership in day-to-day running costs and by reducing their energy carbon footprint1. Mat Moakes, Chief Commercial Officer at OVO, said the three companies were committed to accelerating EV adoption and rewarding customers for making the switch1.
It found that 56% of the UK say lower running costs are the main factor that would influence their decision to switch to an EV, followed by government or tax incentives at 40%, and that three in four people would be more likely to buy an EV if they had access to a charging tariff that automatically charged the car at the lowest rates possible1.
| Finding | Share |
|---|---|
| Say lower running costs are the main factor in switching to an EV | 56% |
| Say government or tax incentives are the main factor | 40% |
| More likely to buy an EV with a tariff that charges automatically at the lowest rates | 3 in 4 |
Why it matters for households
Smart charging plans move a car's charging to periods when electricity is cheaper, and the appeal for a household is the running cost of the car rather than the price of the unit alone. The 7p/kWh rate applies at any time, with the timing of the charge managed automatically1. For a home, that shifts a large and flexible load, the car, into the same category as other flexibility services and reward schemes that pay households for when they use power rather than only how much.
Putting enrolment inside the car maker's own app removes one barrier that has kept some drivers out of these tariffs: the need to run a separate charging app alongside the car's. Kaluza said Volvo Cars keeps control over how drivers interact with smart charging features, giving an experience in line with its own standards1. The company also said future plans include bi-directional V2X services, which would let drivers export surplus energy back to their homes and help balance the grid1. No date, price or eligible models for those services have been reported.
What happens next
Enrolment is open from 13 November 20241. Kaluza said future plans include the development of bi-directional V2X services, without giving a timetable1.