OctopusEnergy R&D labs 4+

I downloaded this app onto my iPhone & iPad as I thought it would be interesting to try & test new things out, which I like doing (I have the TestPilot app and have tested a few apps before their full release). But this app just gets stuck on the opening Octopus logo screen and goes no further.

It’s a shame because the main Octopus app is good and even has basic V2G scheduling controls.

It looks like there’s a nasty interaction between the password strength validation routine in the app and the Apple iOS password auto fill routine when signing up for an account. iOS (16.3.1 at least) with “auto fill password” turned on in the settings tries to generate a strong password, but the app’s password validation routine doesn’t accept dashes as “special characters” which then rejects the password generated. Trying to enter a password manually works for the first password field, but when you click on the “confirm password” field iOS tries to generate a strong password again, wiping the first password entry out. Looks like the only workaround is to disable auto fill (Settings->Passwords->Password options- disable “Autofill passwords”) whilst you sign up.

Now the next issue is that having entered my API key the app seems to get stuck on the splash screen, even if you restart it! (Update: I must have killed the app when it was initialising the first time which broke it in some way - a quick uninstall and reinstall seems to have cured that and now it’s working)

Having a panel and battery combo installed I expected either the supplier or manufacturer to enable me to automate best use of the Agile tariff. Sadly, neither have done so.
This app, which is a beta product, is 90% there and I love it.
It should be part of the product handover imo.