Two electric cars on Intelligent Octopus Go: what to check

Intelligent Octopus Go can support more than one electric car, but two individually compatible cars are not automatically a supported pair. Octopus's UK multicar guidance sets different rules for direct vehicle connections and charger connections. Check your exact combination before switching supplier or buying a charger.

Start with how Octopus will control charging. A direct vehicle connection lets Octopus work through the car's integration. A compatible charger provides a different control route. The permitted combinations depend on which route you use, not just the badges on the driveway.

Which car combinations does Octopus support?

Octopus groups direct vehicle integrations in its multicar FAQ. These are its current grouping rules, not a guarantee that every model from a named brand passes the live eligibility check.

• Ford and Tesla are in Group 1. Octopus allows multiple cars from these brands, including more than one of the same brand. They can combine with Group 2 cars and one Group 3 car.
• Audi, BMW, Mini, CUPRA, Nissan, Porsche, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen are in Group 2. Multiple Group 2 cars must be different brands. Octopus gives BMW plus Skoda as a permitted example, but says two BMWs cannot connect together through this route.
• Renault and Polestar are in Group 3. Only one car from this group is allowed per account. It can combine with Group 1 or Group 2 cars, but not with another Group 3 car.

Two Teslas therefore fit the published Group 1 combination rule. A BMW and a Mini fit Group 2's different-brand rule. A Renault plus a Polestar does not fit the Group 3 rule. Each example still needs the exact model and setup checked with Octopus; the group table does not replace that check.

If you have two BMWs, that is a restriction on connecting both cars directly under the published grouping rule. It is not evidence that no charger-controlled arrangement could work. Ask Octopus about an eligible charger route for your actual cars before making a tariff or hardware decision.

One charger connection is a separate option

The table's Group 4 covers charger integrations. It allows only one charger integration per account, which must be the only integration on that account. Octopus says it cannot combine with the direct vehicle groups.

That rule concerns the connection Octopus controls. It does not mean one charger app must have only one saved vehicle profile. Ohme, for example, supports multiple vehicle profiles in its own app.

Do not assume that adding a second car profile in Ohme also adds a second direct car connection in Octopus. Likewise, the table is not permission to connect two chargers or combine a direct vehicle integration with a charger integration. Confirm the intended setup first.

Charging two cars through an Ohme charger

Ohme's Multi-Car feature lets you add vehicle profiles under Settings, then My EVs. Before plugging in, select the car you are about to charge on the Charging screen. Ohme adjusts the schedule to that vehicle's battery size and maximum charging speed.

Check the selected profile when you swap cars. If the wrong profile was selected, Ohme says you can change it after plugging in and it will recalculate the schedule. Its session history records the selected vehicle, so an incorrect selection can also leave misleading history.

For an Intelligent Go setup connected through Ohme, Octopus says charging schedules are managed in the Ohme app. Follow that route rather than setting competing schedules in both the car and charger apps.

Two cars do not establish two separate charging allowances

The compatibility table explains which integrations can coexist. It does not set out a separate discounted allowance for every connected car.

Octopus's Charge Cap explainer describes up to six hours of discounted smart charging in a midday-to-midday period. Ohme specifically warns households with multiple EVs on the same tariff to manage how they use the six discounted charging hours, suggesting alternating nights or smaller, more frequent top-ups.

Do not budget for six discounted hours per car simply because both cars can connect. Ask Octopus to confirm how the allowance and any charging beyond it apply to your tariff version and control route. Keep that answer with your tariff name, rates and start date.

Where enabled, Ohme's Prioritise Savings option limits charging to the discounted allowance, while Prioritise Target can continue to reach the requested target with additional charging at the peak rate. Octopus's Charge Cap availability and the Ohme setting depend on the account rollout, so use the controls actually available to you rather than assuming a missing toggle means a fault.

Plan around the next departure. If one car needs a large top-up and the other needs only a little, decide which needs the charger first and check the resulting schedules. Alternating nights may work for a light-use household; two cars needed early every morning require a different plan. Do not assume the tariff can overcome limited charging time or connector capacity.

Compare the whole home before switching

Intelligent Go's fixed 23:30 to 05:30 off-peak home window is separate from the EV smart-charging allowance. Do not assume a daytime EV slot also discounts other household use. Confirm your applicable tariff treatment with Octopus before shifting appliances or home-battery charging into extra slots, then check the corresponding periods on your bill.

Compare the day rate and standing charge as well as the EV rate. Include both cars' charging needs and the home's other electricity use. Our EV calculator includes a whole-home break-even check; the low-mileage guide explains why a cheap EV rate alone does not settle the decision.

Regular Octopus Go is worth comparing if the direct connection combination is unsupported or you prefer a timer-based routine. Its published 00:30 to 05:30 window applies to the home and it works with all EVs and chargers, subject to its own joining requirements, including an EV charged at home and a smart meter Octopus can connect to. Check live postcode rates and terms rather than assuming it is cheaper.

Before you start a supplier switch

Write down both car models and the charger model. Ask which integration will control each charge and whether that combination is supported. Confirm the smart-meter connection, current quote, terms and activation steps before relying on Intelligent Go prices.

Octopus's setup guide requires eligibility confirmation, acceptance of the terms, authorisation to control the car or charger and a test charge. Switching your supply and completing that smart-tariff setup are separate steps. The Intelligent Go guide explains the joining sequence.

Once active, retain the relevant app schedules and session records, but compare billed periods against Octopus's meter data. The smart-tariff terms say third-party app data cannot replace meter readings for billing.

If the combination and whole-home quote suit you, the referral page explains using our referral link for the signup you complete. Check tariff fit first.