# E.ON EV Tariff: E.ON Next Drive Smart Rates, Review, and How to Switch (2026) Published: 2026-04-24 | Updated: 2026-10-11 | Source: https://www.bestchargers.co.uk/eon-ev-tariff/ > E.ON Next Drive Smart: 8.1p/kWh from midnight to 6am plus smart charging at the same rate any time, with no exit fee. Rates, eligibility, setup and switching explained. E.ON Next Drive Smart is one of the strongest EV electricity tariffs in the UK. From 1 October 2026 it charges 8.1p per kWh between midnight and 6am every day, bills smart charging scheduled through the E.ON Next Home app at the same rate at any other time, has one of the lowest average day rates of the major EV tariffs, and has no exit fee. You need a supported car or charger; drivers without one can use E.ON Next Drive at 9.53p per kWh with any EV and any charger. ## Quick answers **What is the E.ON Next Drive Smart off-peak rate?** 8.1p/kWh from midnight to 6am every day, applying to the whole home, plus smart-scheduled charging at the same rate at any time. Fixed for the one-year contract. **Is E.ON Next Drive Smart compatible with all electric vehicles?** No. You need a supported EV or a supported charger (zappi, Hypervolt or Indra). E.ON Next Drive works with any EV or plug-in hybrid. **Do I need a smart charger to use E.ON Next Drive Smart?** Not if your car is supported directly. Otherwise a zappi, Hypervolt or Indra charger makes any car eligible. **How long does switching to E.ON Next Drive Smart take?** Approximately five working days from sign-up. E.ON handles the transfer from your current supplier. **What is the daytime rate on E.ON Next Drive Smart?** It averages 31.68p/kWh from 7 October 2026 and varies by region; the standing charge is 57.14p a day. For EV owners who want a low overnight rate, a low day rate and no exit fee from a major UK supplier, E.ON Next Drive Smart is one of the strongest tariffs available. --- ## E.ON Next Drive Smart: Key Rates and Details **Off-peak rate:** 8.1p/kWh (8.095p) **Off-peak window:** Midnight to 6am (6 hours daily), plus any charging scheduled through the E.ON Next Home app **Rate applies to:** Your whole home during the off-peak window and during scheduled smart charging **Peak daytime rate:** 31.68p/kWh on average (varies by region) **Standing charge:** 57.14p a day (same in every region) **Eligibility:** A supported EV, or a supported charger (zappi, Hypervolt or Indra); one EV per home **Smart meter required:** Yes, sending half-hourly readings **Contract type:** Fixed for one year **Exit fee:** None *Rates are correct as of October 2026 and include 0% VAT on household electricity, which applies until 31 March 2027; E.ON quoted the same off-peak rate as 8.5p/kWh including 5% VAT. Always verify current rates directly with E.ON Next before switching.* --- ## E.ON Next Drive Smart vs E.ON Next Drive E.ON offers two EV tariff variants under the Drive name: **E.ON Next Drive Smart**: 8.1p/kWh overnight, plus the same rate for smart charging at any time, and an average day rate of 31.68p/kWh. It needs a supported car or charger and the E.ON Next Home app. This is the more competitive option and the one we recommend for drivers who qualify. **E.ON Next Drive**: 9.53p/kWh from midnight to 6am, with an average day rate of 32.85p/kWh. It works with any electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle and any charger; you just set a timer. Also fixed for a year with no exit fee. When comparing E.ON's EV tariffs, always confirm which variant is being quoted. --- ## How the Whole-Home Off-Peak Rate Works E.ON Next Drive Smart applies the 8.1p/kWh rate to all electricity drawn from the grid during the midnight-to-6am window, not just your EV. When the app schedules charging outside that window, your whole home gets the same rate while it runs. This means you save on overnight appliances too: - Washing machine: a 2kWh cycle at 8.1p rather than 26.32p saves approximately 36p per wash - Dishwasher: a 1.5kWh cycle saves approximately 27p per run - Immersion heater: heating a full tank (5kWh) at 8.1p rather than 26.32p saves approximately 90p per heat Households that shift washing, drying, and dishwashing to overnight can save a meaningful additional sum on top of EV charging savings. --- ## How Much Can You Save? At 8.1p/kWh overnight versus the October 2026 price cap average of 26.32p/kWh, the per-unit saving is approximately 69%. A driver covering 7,000 miles per year in an average EV consuming around 3.5 miles/kWh: - Annual charging requirement: approximately 2,000 kWh - Annual cost at the price cap average (26.32p): approximately £526 - Annual cost at E.ON Next Drive Smart (8.1p): approximately £162 - Annual saving on EV charging: approximately £364 E.ON's own estimate, published before the VAT cut, is a saving of around £423 a year for a driver covering 8,000 miles. *These are illustrative estimates based on the October 2026 price cap and a typical usage profile. Actual savings depend on your region, your daytime electricity use and your vehicle's real-world efficiency.* --- ## Which EVs Work with E.ON Next Drive Smart? There are two routes onto Drive Smart: - **Through your car.** E.ON supports a wide range of EVs directly through the E.ON Next Home app. Check E.ON's supported EV list for your make, model and model year. - **Through your charger.** If you have a zappi, Hypervolt or Indra charger, you can connect the charger instead, which means compatibility no longer depends on your car. Drive Smart supports one EV per home. E.ON notes that some car manufacturers charge a subscription to smart charge through their app. If neither route works for you, E.ON Next Drive is open to anyone with an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle and works with any charger or even a 3-pin cable. --- ## Setting Up Charging on E.ON Next Drive Smart 1. **Download the E.ON Next Home app** once your switch is complete. 2. **Connect your car or supported charger** by following the steps in the app. 3. **Set when you need the car ready** (between 4am and 11am) and the charge level you want. The app then schedules charging automatically for the cheapest times. Any charging it schedules is billed at 8.1p/kWh, even outside the midnight-to-6am window. If you need to charge immediately, use Boost; boost charging during peak hours is billed at the peak rate. On E.ON Next Drive (not Smart), there is no app step: set a charging timer on your car or charger for midnight to 6am. --- ## Do You Need a Smart Charger? Not necessarily. If your car is on E.ON's supported list, you can connect it directly. If it isn't, a zappi, Hypervolt or Indra charger gets you onto Drive Smart. E.ON Next Drive works with: - Standard 3-pin EVSE cables - Basic 7kW home chargers without app connectivity - Any smart charger A smart charger also brings practical advantages: remote schedule adjustments, energy consumption monitoring, solar integration (via zappi or similar), and load balancing. Our [home EV charger reviews](/all-chargers/) cover the best options currently available. --- ## How to Switch to E.ON Next Drive Smart 1. **Confirm your smart meter status.** If you do not have one, contact E.ON; they will install it free of charge. 2. **Check eligibility and get a quote** at eonnext.com. Enter your postcode, car and charger details. 3. **Sign up online.** E.ON handles the switch from your current supplier. 4. **Switching takes approximately five working days.** You do not need to contact your old supplier. 5. **Once live, download the E.ON Next Home app** and connect your car or charger. --- ## Comparing E.ON Next Drive Smart with Other EV Tariffs | Tariff | Off-peak rate | Window | Peak rate (average) | Exit fee | |---|---|---|---|---| | E.ON Next Drive Smart | 8.1p/kWh | Midnight–6am plus smart slots | 31.68p/kWh | None | | Intelligent Octopus Go | 7.6p/kWh | 11:30pm–5:30am plus smart slots | 36.70p/kWh | £50 | | E.ON Next Drive | 9.53p/kWh | Midnight–6am (6h) | 32.85p/kWh | None | | British Gas EV Power | 9.5p/kWh | Midnight–5am (5h) | 36.90p/kWh | £200 per fuel | | EDF GoElectric | 6.66p/kWh | 11pm–6am (7h) | 35.21p/kWh | £75 per fuel | E.ON Next Drive Smart's main advantages over Intelligent Octopus Go are the much lower day rate and no exit fee, with an overnight rate just 0.5p higher. Its main advantages over British Gas EV Power are the lower unit rate (8.1p vs 9.5p), the longer overnight window (six hours vs five), the far lower day rate and no exit fee. EDF GoElectric's seven-hour window and 6.66p/kWh rate may suit large-battery, high-mileage drivers who charge almost entirely overnight, though it has a higher day rate and an exit fee. For a full comparison of all current EV tariffs, see our [EV tariff comparison hub](/ev-tariffs/) and [EV smart tariff guide](/ev-smart-tariff-guide/). --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is the E.ON Next Drive Smart off-peak rate?** From 1 October 2026 it is 8.1p/kWh (8.095p) from midnight to 6am every day, applying to the whole home, plus the same rate for any charging scheduled through the E.ON Next Home app at other times. E.ON advertised it as 8.5p/kWh including 5% VAT; VAT on household electricity is 0% until 31 March 2027. The rate is fixed for the one-year contract. Always verify the current rate at eonnext.com before switching. **Is E.ON Next Drive Smart compatible with all electric vehicles?** No. Drive Smart needs either a supported electric vehicle or a supported home charger (zappi, Hypervolt or Indra), connected through the E.ON Next Home app, and it supports one EV per home. If your car and charger are not supported, E.ON Next Drive works with any electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle and any charger at 9.53p/kWh from midnight to 6am. **Do I need a smart charger to use E.ON Next Drive Smart?** Not necessarily. You can connect a supported car directly through the E.ON Next Home app, or connect a supported charger (zappi, Hypervolt or Indra), which means compatibility no longer depends on your car. The standard Next Drive tariff needs no smart charger at all: you just set a timer for midnight to 6am. **How long does switching to E.ON Next Drive Smart take?** Approximately five working days from sign-up. E.ON handles the transfer from your current supplier. You do not need to contact your old supplier. **What is the daytime rate on E.ON Next Drive Smart?** It averages 31.68p/kWh across the UK regions from 7 October 2026, from about 30.71p to 33.22p depending on where you live. That is one of the lowest average day rates of the major EV tariffs we track; only ScottishPower EV Saver, with a three-hour cheap window, is lower. The standing charge is 57.14p a day in every region. --- ## Key Takeaways - E.ON Next Drive Smart charges 8.1p/kWh from midnight to 6am for the whole home, plus the same rate for smart charging scheduled through the E.ON Next Home app at any time. - Its average day rate of 31.68p/kWh is one of the lowest of the major EV tariffs we track, and there is no exit fee. - You need a supported car, or a zappi, Hypervolt or Indra charger; otherwise E.ON Next Drive (9.53p/kWh, any EV, any charger) is the alternative. - Estimated saving on charging: around £364 a year for a 7,000-mile driver versus the October 2026 price cap average. - The tariff is fixed for one year; always verify current rates at eonnext.com before committing. --- ## Useful Resources E.ON Next: Drive Smart tariff https://www.eonnext.com/tariffs/next-drive/smart Ofgem: Energy price cap https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ Energy Saving Trust: Smart charging for electric vehicles https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/smart-charging-electric-vehicles/