Today we will be paid to charge our company van.
Yes, the utility company will pay us. That’s great of course, but not the only reason we have gone to a lot of effort to make it happen.
As the MD of the company, I’m passionate about two things: data and sustainability. And this is the moment they come together.
Three years ago we made the decision to get an electric vehicle. All our drones are electric of course, so why not go electric on the ground as well as in the air? Actually, there are some good reasons not to, including limited range (vans are still catching up with cars in the EV market) and the dismal state of the UK’s public charging network. But sustainability sadly doesn’t always equate with convenience, and some sacrifices feel right for the greater good.
So, to benefit from ‘plunge pricing’ (i.e. negative rates) you will most likely need:
- a smart meter (SMETS2)
- an ‘innovative’ energy tariff from your provider (we are on Octopus ‘Agile’)
- a suitably intelligent charger (we use Ohme)
Then, it’s just a question of waiting for the sun to shine or the wind to blow.
With enough renewable energy available, the grid eventually gets to a stage where the wholesale market goes negative in order to shed load, and that’s the time to charge.
Of course there are plenty of days when prices are closer (or indeed more than) standard tariffs, but with tools like Octopus Compare you’ll be able to see whether, over time, you are saving money. As it happens, we do, and it’s very much part of our efforts to support the drive towards a sustainably economy.
Leaping Wing also specialises in providing 3D drone inspections, allowing buildings to be inspected in a genuinely carbon zero and economical way.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you. For more information on the services we can provide, visit our website.