British Gas EV Power is one of the UK’s most straightforward EV electricity tariffs. It offers a fixed overnight rate of 9p per kWh between midnight and 5am, works with any electric vehicle and any home charger, and comes with a Sunday afternoon half-price electricity benefit called PeakSave.
Customers who install a Hive EV charger can access EV Power+, which reduces the overnight rate to 7.9p/kWh — among the lowest available for a whole-home off-peak tariff.
British Gas EV Power: Key Details
Standard EV Power:
- Off-peak rate: 9p/kWh
- Off-peak window: Midnight to 5am (5 hours daily)
- Rate applies to: Your whole home during the off-peak window
- EV compatibility: All EVs and charger brands
- Smart meter required: Yes — half-hourly data sharing
EV Power+ (Hive EV Charger required):
- Off-peak rate: 7.9p/kWh
- Off-peak window: Midnight to 5am (5 hours daily)
- Rate applies to: Your whole home during the off-peak window
- Requires: Hive EV charger installed at home
PeakSave benefit (both tariffs):
- Half-price electricity every Sunday, 11am–4pm
- Applies to whole-home electricity consumption
- Available automatically on both EV Power and EV Power+
Rates are subject to change. Verify current figures directly with British Gas at britishgas.co.uk before switching.
The PeakSave Benefit: What It Means in Practice
PeakSave gives you electricity at half the standard daytime rate every Sunday between 11am and 4pm. For households that shift energy-intensive tasks to Sunday afternoons — laundry, dishwashing, hoovering, slow cooking — this adds meaningful savings on top of the overnight EV charging benefit.
The PeakSave window is five hours per week. If your household uses an average of 3kWh during a Sunday afternoon (equivalent to one washing cycle, one dishwasher run, and general use), and the daytime rate is approximately 26p/kWh, you save approximately 39p per Sunday — around £20 per year from PeakSave alone.
Combined with overnight EV charging savings, PeakSave makes British Gas EV Power a competitive package for households that actively use the benefit.
How Much Can You Save on British Gas EV Power?
At 9p/kWh overnight versus the Ofgem Q2 2026 standard variable rate of 24.67p/kWh, the per-unit saving is approximately 64%.
For a driver covering 7,000 miles per year in an average EV:
- Annual charging requirement: approximately 2,000 kWh
- Annual cost at standard rate (24.67p): approximately £493
- Annual cost at British Gas EV Power (9p): approximately £180
- Annual saving on EV charging: approximately £313
British Gas estimates annual savings of £330–£490 versus the standard variable tariff, depending on usage.
At 7.9p/kWh on EV Power+, the annual EV charging cost drops to approximately £158 — a saving of approximately £335 on charging alone, before PeakSave or household appliance savings.
These figures are illustrative. Actual savings depend on current tariff rates, your vehicle, and your actual overnight usage. Verify with British Gas before switching.
British Gas EV Power vs EV Power+: Which Is Right for You?
Choose standard EV Power if:
- You already have a home charger from any brand
- You want the simplest possible setup — no new hardware required
- You are switching from a standard tariff and want to test EV-specific billing before upgrading
Choose EV Power+ if:
- You are installing a new home charger and are open to the Hive brand
- You want the lower 7.9p/kWh overnight rate
- You are willing to invest in a Hive charger for the rate reduction
The cost difference between 9p and 7.9p per kWh is approximately £22 per year for a driver using 2,000 kWh overnight. Whether the Hive charger investment pays back depends on the charger cost and how long you are on the tariff.
Which EVs Work with British Gas EV Power?
All of them. British Gas EV Power has no restrictions on EV brand or charger brand. Every EV and plug-in hybrid registered in the UK qualifies.
Unlike Octopus Intelligent Go — which requires a compatible EV or smart charger for automated scheduling — British Gas EV Power is a simple timer-based tariff. You set a charging timer on your car or charger to start at midnight and run until your target battery level is reached (completing before 5am for most daily top-ups).
EVs particularly well-suited to British Gas EV Power’s 5-hour window:
The Nissan Leaf 40kWh charges fully in approximately five to six hours at 7kW — a perfect fit. The MG ZS EV (51kWh) charges fully in around seven hours, but typical daily top-ups (30–50% of battery) complete well within five hours. Any EV requiring a partial top-up rather than a full charge from empty fits comfortably within the window.
For large-battery EVs (VW ID.4 at 77kWh, Tesla Model Y Long Range at 75kWh) that need a more complete overnight charge, EDF GoElectric’s seven-hour window may be more appropriate.
Setting Up Overnight Charging on British Gas EV Power
No smart charger integration is required. You set a charging timer on your vehicle or charger once, and overnight charging runs at 9p/kWh every night.
Via your car’s app: Set a departure time (e.g. 7:30am) or a charge start time (midnight). The car runs within the off-peak window automatically.
Via your charger’s app: Any smart charger allows schedule setting. Set the charge window to midnight–5am.
For EV Power+ users with a Hive EV charger: the Hive app provides additional scheduling controls and usage monitoring.
How to Switch to British Gas EV Power
- Visit britishgas.co.uk and request a quote for EV Power.
- Confirm you have a smart meter (or that British Gas can install one — free of charge for all customers on request).
- Complete the online sign-up. British Gas handles the transfer from your current supplier.
- Switching takes approximately five working days.
- Once live, set a midnight-to-5am charging timer on your car or charger.
Comparing British Gas EV Power to Other EV Tariffs
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Window | All EVs? | PeakSave/extras? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Gas EV Power | 9p/kWh | Midnight–5am (5h) | Yes | Sunday half-price |
| British Gas EV Power+ | 7.9p/kWh | Midnight–5am (5h) | Via Hive charger | Sunday half-price |
| Octopus Intelligent Go | 8p/kWh | 11:30pm–5:30am (6h) | Partial | None |
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | 8p/kWh | Midnight–6am (6h) | Yes | None |
| EDF GoElectric | 6.99p/kWh | 11pm–6am (7h) | Yes | None |
British Gas EV Power has the shortest overnight window (5 hours) and one of the higher standard rates (9p/kWh). It compensates with universal compatibility, an established brand, and the PeakSave Sunday benefit that no other major EV tariff currently matches.
EV Power+ at 7.9p/kWh is genuinely competitive — below Octopus and E.ON’s 8p/kWh — but requires the Hive charger.
For a complete comparison, see our EV tariff comparison hub and EV smart tariff guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the British Gas EV Power off-peak rate? Standard EV Power: 9p/kWh from midnight to 5am. EV Power+ (Hive charger required): 7.9p/kWh from midnight to 5am. Both rates apply to the whole home during the window, not just the EV. Always verify current rates at britishgas.co.uk before switching.
Does British Gas EV Power work with all electric vehicles? Yes. Both EV Power and EV Power+ are compatible with all EVs and plug-in hybrids. There are no restrictions on vehicle brand or model. EV Power works with any charger brand; EV Power+ requires a Hive EV charger.
What is PeakSave? PeakSave is a benefit on both British Gas EV tariffs that provides half-price electricity every Sunday between 11am and 4pm. It applies to the whole home — not just EV charging — and can save households that shift laundry, cooking, or other high-consumption tasks to Sunday afternoons an additional £15–£30 per year.
How much does British Gas EV Power save? British Gas estimates £330–£490 annual savings compared to the Q2 2026 Ofgem standard variable rate, based on a typical household driving approximately 7,000 miles per year.
Do I need a smart meter for British Gas EV Power? Yes. A smart meter with half-hourly data sharing is required. If you do not have one, British Gas is legally required to install it free of charge on request.
Key Takeaways
- British Gas EV Power offers 9p/kWh overnight (midnight–5am) with no vehicle or charger brand restrictions, plus PeakSave half-price electricity every Sunday 11am–4pm.
- EV Power+ reduces the overnight rate to 7.9p/kWh for customers using a Hive EV charger.
- Estimated annual saving: £330–£490 versus the Q2 2026 standard variable tariff.
- The five-hour overnight window suits most daily top-up charging; large-battery EVs needing a full overnight charge may prefer EDF GoElectric’s seven-hour window.
- PeakSave is a differentiating benefit not offered by Octopus, E.ON, or EDF, adding further household savings for active Sunday users.
Useful Resources
British Gas — EV Power tariff
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/electric-cars/ev-tariff.html
Ofgem — Energy price cap
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/
Energy Saving Trust — Smart charging guide
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/smart-charging-electric-vehicles/