E.ON Next Drive Smart is one of the strongest EV electricity tariffs in the UK. As of 21 October 2026 it charges 6.5p per kWh between midnight and 6am every day, the lowest overnight rate of the major EV tariffs we track, 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 8.5p per kWh with any EV and any charger.
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6.5p/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.
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.
Not if your car is supported directly. Otherwise a zappi, Hypervolt or Indra charger makes any car eligible.
Approximately five working days from sign-up. E.ON handles the transfer from your current supplier.
As of 25 October 2026 E.ON publishes an average of 34.04p/kWh, and it varies by region; the standing charge is 57p a day (57.14p in every region).
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: 6.5p/kWh
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: 34.04p/kWh (varies by region)
Standing charge: 57p a day (57.14p 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 21 October 2026 (Drive Smart V7.8) and include 0% VAT on household electricity, which applies until 31 March 2027. 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: 6.5p/kWh overnight, plus the same rate for smart charging at any time, and an average day rate of 34.04p/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: 8.5p/kWh from midnight to 6am, with an average day rate of 34.87p/kWh (version V36). 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 6.5p/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 6.5p rather than 26.32p saves approximately 40p per wash
- Dishwasher: a 1.5kWh cycle saves approximately 30p per run
- Immersion heater: heating a full tank (5kWh) at 6.5p rather than 26.32p saves approximately 99p 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 6.5p/kWh overnight versus the October 2026 price cap average of 26.32p/kWh, the per-unit saving is approximately 75%.
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 (6.5p): approximately £130
- Annual saving on EV charging: approximately £396
E.ON’s own current estimate is a saving of around £476 a year for a driver covering 8,000 miles at 3.33 miles per kWh.
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
- Download the E.ON Next Home app once your switch is complete.
- Connect your car or supported charger by following the steps in the app.
- 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 6.5p/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 cover the best options currently available.
How to Switch to E.ON Next Drive Smart
- Confirm your smart meter status. If you do not have one, contact E.ON; they will install it free of charge.
- Check eligibility and get a quote at eonnext.com. Enter your postcode, car and charger details.
- Sign up online. E.ON handles the switch from your current supplier.
- Switching takes approximately five working days. You do not need to contact your old supplier.
- 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 | 6.5p/kWh | Midnight–6am plus smart slots | 34.04p/kWh | None |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | 8.0p/kWh | 11:30pm–5:30am plus smart slots | 38.90p/kWh | £50 |
| E.ON Next Drive | 8.5p/kWh | Midnight–6am (6h) | 34.87p/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 lower overnight rate (6.5p vs 8.0p), the much lower day rate and no exit fee. Its main advantages over British Gas EV Power are the lower unit rate (6.5p vs 9.5p), the longer overnight window (six hours vs five), the far lower day rate and no exit fee. Next Drive’s day rate and the standing charges above are the previous versions’ figures, because E.ON had not published new ones.
EDF GoElectric’s seven-hour window and 6.66p/kWh rate (0.16p above Drive Smart) may suit large-battery, high-mileage drivers who charge almost entirely overnight and want a longer window with no smart-device requirement, 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 and EV smart tariff guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the E.ON Next Drive Smart off-peak rate? As of 21 October 2026 it is 6.5p/kWh from midnight to 6am every day (version V7.8), applying to the whole home, plus the same rate for any charging scheduled through the E.ON Next Home app at other times. The previous version was 8.0p/kWh. 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 8.5p/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? As of 21 October 2026 E.ON publishes a peak rate of 34.04p/kWh for Drive Smart, which varies depending on where you live. That is one of the lowest day rates of the major EV tariffs we track; only EDF GoElectric’s 18-month version (32.99p/kWh) is lower. The standing charge was about 57p a day on the previous version; we could not re-check it for V7.8.
Key Takeaways
- E.ON Next Drive Smart charges 6.5p/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 34.04p/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 (8.5p/kWh, any EV, any charger) is the alternative.
- Estimated saving on charging: around £396 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/
