How are BYD and Octopus Energy Shaping the UK's EV Journey?
With more than £2.3bn (US$3.1bn) in government funding being invested to support the EV transition, the UK is racing to decarbonise transport.
In a major leap for green mobility and charging grid innovation, Octopus Energy and EV giant, BYD, have unveiled the UK's first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bundle.
Announced at the 2025 Energy Tech Summit in London, the Power Pack Bundle, marks a groundbreaking move towards making electric driving not only greener but more cost and energy effective.
A new EV era
The bundle combines a V2G-ready BYD Dolphin electric car, a bi-directional Zaptec Pro charger and a smart tariff powered by Octopus Energy’s Kraken platform, all for under £300 (US$408) a month (leasing prices are subject to change).
With this, drivers could save up to £1000 (nearly US$1,400) annually compared to petrol vehicle costs.
The Power Pack Bundle’s most headline-grabbing feature is its promise of completely free home charging.
By enabling bidirectional charging, the technology allows EVs to act as mobile batteries, drawing electricity when it’s cheap and feeding it back to the grid when it’s expensive.
“Bi-directional charging is the game-changer for drivers and the grid,” says Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy Group.
“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.”
V2G helps reduce peak demand on the grid and supports a more resilient renewable energy system, making each EV a valuable part of the UK’s energy transition.
Making V2G affordable and accessible
Until now, V2G technology has required expensive first-generation chargers, putting it out of reach for many.
The BYD Dolphin is the first EV in the UK to come with built-in V2G capability, removing that barrier entirely.
Through Octopus Electric Vehicles, the largest EV-only leasing firm in the UK, customers will have access to this pioneering bundle in a straightforward monthly package.
Drivers simply plug in overnight and let Kraken manage the charging cycles.
The process is fully automated, ensuring all home charging during the lease period is free.
This could cut annual EV charging costs by £620 (US$844) compared to a standard tariff.
“BYD is fully committed to making intelligent, innovative, sustainable technologies available to our customers,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD.
“Together with Octopus Energy, we’re enabling EV owners to play an active role in the energy ecosystem, reducing costs and increasing the resilience of renewable power systems.”
Powering inclusion
To extend the benefits of this new technology across society, Octopus and BYD have partnered with Motability Operations, the UK’s largest leasing provider for disabled people.
This ensures that the energy and cost-saving advantages of V2G will also be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
"It’s great to see V2G technology becoming available at scale – effectively turning EVs into energy assets that can help power homes and support the grid," comments Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations.
"For our customers, this could mean significantly lower energy bills and an even more affordable route into electric driving.
“We’re proud to be part of a partnership that’s not only breaking new ground in energy, but also ensuring the benefits are accessible to disabled people across the UK.”
A glimpse of the future for EVs
The Power Pack Bundle represents more than just another step in EV adoption, it’s a vision of a future where vehicles do more than transport.
With this partnership, Octopus Energy, BYD and Motability are not only rethinking mobility, they are redefining the role of the EV in the wider energy ecosystem.
The UK may now be closer than ever to a future where clean transport and clean energy go hand in hand.
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