OVO Energy is to expand its current electric vehicle (EV) offering as it launches OVO Drive, with Tonik Energy co-founder Chris Russell to helm the division.
Russell has been appointed managing director and is to be responsible for the continued expansion of OVO’s EV offering, bringing new products and propositions to existing members.
He will also be focused on developing new partnerships and routes to market, as well as working with OVO’s intelligent software business Kaluza to optimise members’ devices, the supplier said.
It comes after OVO announced in January a ‘type of use’ tariff for EV charging that offers a flat rate of 6p/kWh at any time of day, with this designed to protect drivers from fluctuating electricity prices.
The energy supplier also pointed to previous milestones achieved, including claiming the world’s first domestic vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charger installation in 2019.
Russell described OVO as a “front runner” in V2G and flex technology through Kaluza, stating it now has the opportunity to “further leverage these assets to create simple, compelling and differentiated proposals for electric vehicle owners” and is “well placed to lead the way” in EVs.
Russell founded Tonik Energy in 2016, with the supplier shuttering in October 2020.