Osprey to offer Autocharge with launch of Osprey Go
Osprey Charging Network has launched Osprey Go, a new service designed to make public electric vehicle charging simpler by allowing drivers to plug in and charge automatically without tapping a payment card or opening the Osprey app. The launch makes Osprey Charging Network the largest UK charging network to offer Autocharge technology, which removes a key authentication step from the public charging process.
Once Osprey Go has been set up through the Osprey app, drivers can simply plug their compatible electric vehicle into an Osprey charger and walk away. Charging starts automatically, with the best available Osprey price for that particular location and time applied without any additional interaction.
Osprey says the technology has been developed in-house through Osprey Iris, its proprietary software platform. The company’s growing team of developers and product specialists extensively trialled Osprey Go with a beta testing group of real-world drivers before making it available to all app users.
Dynamic pricing for public EV charging
The Osprey Go launch is also being supported by the expansion of dynamic pricing across Osprey’s network this month.
Under the system, customers charging outside peak periods can benefit from lower prices while receiving the same rapid or ultra-rapid charging experience. This could be particularly valuable for EV drivers without off-street parking or access to home charging, who depend heavily on public charging infrastructure.
“Osprey Go is a significant improvement to the EV customer experience”, said Olly Cooper, CTO of Osprey. “I’m proud that the team have developed and delivered this capability in-house – both the automatic start-charge and the off-peak pricing. We took Autocharge and we made it Osprey: building a simple set-up flow, testing it thoroughly, and offering the functionality to the widest range of drivers. This is the innovation and openness that has always been core to Osprey, and why we brought software in house in the first place with Osprey Iris.”
For drivers, the key benefit is convenience. Once Osprey Go has been activated, there is no requirement to tap a bank card or open the app to authenticate a charging session. The vehicle can be connected and charging begins automatically.
The service also automatically applies the best Osprey price available at the charger and at the time the vehicle is plugged in, meaning drivers can take advantage of lower off-peak rates without having to monitor pricing manually.
Customers continue to have access to receipts, live pricing and charger availability through the Osprey app. They can also receive information about relevant offers and discounts based on where and when they charge.
Autocharge and future Plug & Charge capability
Osprey selected Autocharge as the technology behind Osprey Go because it provides an accessible solution for a broad range of drivers and vehicles, supporting the network’s existing approach to making public charging straightforward.
The company is also exploring Plug & Charge technology for a future release. While Autocharge uses the charging network’s systems to recognise a registered vehicle, Plug & Charge provides vehicle-based authentication for compatible cars, potentially making the charging process even more seamless and interoperable.
Osprey believes the benefits of dynamic pricing extend beyond simply reducing charging costs for customers.
By reflecting variations in energy costs, dynamic pricing can allow savings to be passed on to drivers while encouraging charging demand to move away from peak periods on the electricity grid.
As the UK’s electric vehicle fleet continues to grow and demand for public charging infrastructure increases, Osprey expects this ability to influence when drivers charge to become increasingly important.
Osprey Go is available now to all Osprey app users, providing a simpler way for drivers to access the company’s rapid and ultra-rapid public charging network.
