The electric vehicle (EV) revolution just got a powerful boost.

This week, Octopus Energy and BYD (Build Your Dreams) announced a landmark partnership to launch the UK’s first electric car bundle with free home charging included. As a renewable electrical installation company passionate about driving the transition to clean energy, we see this as a significant leap toward a more sustainable, accessible, and emissions-free future for our roads.

Source: Zaptec joins Octopus and BYD to enable UK’s first… | Zaptec

What’s in the Power Pack Bundle?

Unveiled at last week’s Octopus Energy’s Energy Tech summit, the pioneering offer combines:

  • A brand-new BYD electric car – known for their high performance, innovation, and affordability. The car on offer is a leased V2G (vehicle-to-grid)-ready BYD Dolphin, available for under (an incredibly affordable!) £300 a month.
  • A bi-directional Zaptec Pro charger, a charger at the cutting-edge of EV technology, allowing renewable energy to flow both ways, returning excess power to. the grid
  • Free home charging for up to a year, via Octopus’s award-winning EV energy tariff, for up to 12,000 miles annually.
  • Seamless integration with Octopus’s intelligent charging app, which charges your car when electricity is cheapest and greenest.

This partnership brings together two major forces in energy and clean transport: BYD, one of the world’s largest EV manufacturers, and Octopus, the UK’s most forward-thinking renewable energy provider. The founder of Octopus Energy Group, Greg Jackson, a passionate revolutionary in the field of renewable energy, commented, “Bi-directional charging is the game-changer for drivers and the grid. By using some of the battery’s spare capacity to help balance the grid, we can offer free driving. V2G is going to revolutionise our energy system and help drive costs down.”

Octopus’ offering on their new Power Pack Bundle is pioneering and unrivalled. Source

Just exactly what is V2G?

If you don’t know, get to know! Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology turns electric vehicles into “batteries on wheels,” enabling them to not only charge when electricity is cheapest, but also send power back to the grid during peak demand when electricity is most expensive. This helps reduce reliance on fossil fuel power stations without compromising the car’s primary function – getting you where you need to go.

For the first time, V2G capability is now being built directly into the vehicle itself, removing the need for bulky and expensive first-generation V2G chargers. As more of these smart, V2G-ready EVs hit the roads, we could soon see hundreds of thousands of cars acting as mini power plants – supporting the grid, lowering energy costs, and accelerating the shift to cleaner energy.

Why This Matters for the Clean Energy Movement

For many UK households, the switch to electric cars still naturally raises many practical concerns: Where do I charge it? Will my energy bills soar? Is it truly better for the planet? Do I have the initial funds to switch to an EV car?

And this revolutionary bundle from Octopus and BYD addresses all three.

  1. Convenience: With home charging included, there’s no more waiting around at public chargers; just plug in at night and drive off in the morning. Due to Octopus joining forces with both BYD and Motability Operations, the benefits of V2G technology will even reach people with disabilities nationwide, promoting cost-effective and accessible electric motoring.
  2. Cost Control: Octopus’s smart EV tariffs lower your bills by using off-peak and renewable-heavy energy periods — and now, for many, that charging is completely free. With free charging, typical EV drivers can slash their annual bills by £620 compared to charging on a standard tariff – and save nearly £1000 compared to fuelling a petrol or diesel car
  3. Carbon Reduction: Charging from a 100% renewable supplier like Octopus means the car’s emissions are truly net-zero – not just tailpipe-free. And what’s more, the V2G could even generate energy back to power customer’s homes, saving them even more money in the long-run.
The sophisticated outline of the BYD Dolphin, coupled with sharp crease lines and flowing contours, projects a confident and elegant design.
Source: BYD DOLPHIN – Agile & Versatile | Small Electric Hatchback | BYD UK

A Glimpse into the Future

BYD’s entry into the UK market is a strong signal of the EV market’s momentum, which Octopus Energy have been at the forefront of since 2021. Their cars, popular across Europe and Asia, are known for pushing the boundaries of efficiency and design. Combine that with Octopus’s tech-savvy, customer-first approach to energy, and you get a blueprint for what the future of transport should look like: clean, simple, and affordable.

This isn’t just about cars. It’s about smart energy ecosystems. Homes powered by renewables, driving electric vehicles, storing excess solar in batteries, and using AI to manage it all – this is the net-zero home, and the homes of the future, in action.

So what is Carter Renewables’ Take?

As a renewable electricity company, we applaud this initiative. It reflects exactly what we’ve been advocating for: partnerships that remove the barriers to clean energy adoption and empower everyday people to make greener choices – without sacrificing convenience or cost.

We believe in a future where your car fuels up with the sun and wind as you sleep. This bundle from Octopus and BYD brings that future even closer.

Thinking About Going Electric?

If you’re considering switching to an EV or looking at how to integrate clean transport into your home’s energy mix, we’re here to help. From green tariffs to home charging support, our mission is to make sustainable living second nature.

Have questions about EVs or home charging? Drop us a message or explore our EV Charging webpage for guides and support.