An EV smart tariff is a time-of-use electricity tariff that offers a lower rate per unit (measured in pence per kWh) during off-peak hours, typically overnight. By charging your electric car during these cheaper windows, most UK drivers save between £300 and £500 per year compared to a standard variable tariff.
This guide covers how EV smart tariffs work, which providers offer the best rates in 2026, how to switch, and how to choose the right tariff for your vehicle and charging habits.
What Is an EV Smart Tariff?
A smart tariff for electric vehicles divides your electricity bill into at least two rate bands: a cheap off-peak rate (usually overnight) and a standard daytime rate. You pay less per kWh when you charge during the off-peak window, and more at other times.
The key difference between a standard dual-rate tariff and an EV-specific smart tariff is how the cheap rate is applied. Some tariffs apply the lower rate to your entire home during the off-peak window, so you benefit from running a dishwasher, washing machine, or immersion heater overnight too. Others apply the cheap rate only to electricity drawn through a verified EV charger.
The more sophisticated end of the market, led by Octopus Intelligent Go, goes further. These tariffs use direct integration with your EV or smart charger to automatically schedule charging for the cheapest and greenest moments, without you needing to manage it manually.
To qualify for any EV smart tariff in the UK, you need:
- A smart meter capable of sending half-hourly readings
- An electric vehicle registered in the UK (some tariffs also accept plug-in hybrids)
- A home EV charger (standard 3-pin charging is accepted by some, but smart tariffs work best with a dedicated 7kW wallbox)
If you do not yet have a smart meter, your energy supplier is legally obliged to install one free of charge on request.
How Much Can You Save on an EV Smart Tariff?
The standard variable electricity rate set by Ofgem for Q2 2026 is 24.67p per kWh. Leading EV smart tariffs offer overnight rates of between 7p and 9.5p per kWh — a reduction of between 61% and 72%.
For a driver covering 7,000 miles per year in a car that consumes around 3.5 miles per kWh, the annual charging requirement is approximately 2,000 kWh. At the standard rate, that costs around £493 per year. On Octopus Intelligent Go at 8p/kWh, the same charging costs around £160 — a saving of over £330.
Drivers who consistently charge at home overnight and avoid public charging wherever possible can save up to £500 or more per year. Public charging rates average around 54p per kWh across the UK, making home smart charging on a dedicated tariff up to 85% cheaper per unit.
A full charge for a Volkswagen ID.4 (77kWh battery) on Octopus Intelligent Go costs approximately £6.16 overnight. At an average public charging rate, the same charge would cost over £41.
The Best EV Smart Tariffs in the UK (April 2026)
Octopus Intelligent Go
Off-peak rate: 8p/kWh
Off-peak window: 11:30pm–5:30am (6 hours, whole home)
Smart scheduling: Yes — direct integration with 280+ EV models and chargers
Compatibility: Direct API integration with Tesla, Audi, BMW, Cupra, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen. Wider compatibility via Ohme, Zappi, VCHRGD, Hypervolt, Indra, Andersen chargers.
Octopus Intelligent Go is the UK’s most popular EV tariff, with over 150,000 customers. You connect your EV or smart charger to the Octopus app, tell it when you need the car ready and what battery level you want, and the system automatically schedules charging for the cheapest and greenest times. You do not need to remember to set a timer.
The 8p/kWh rate applies to the whole home during the off-peak window, so you can also run overnight appliances more cheaply.
Best for: Drivers with a compatible EV or smart charger who want fully automated overnight charging.
E.ON Next Drive Smart
Off-peak rate: 8p/kWh
Off-peak window: 12am–6am (6 hours, whole home)
Smart scheduling: Via compatible smart charger
Compatibility: All EVs and plug-in hybrids; all home charger brands
E.ON Next Drive Smart offers the same 8p/kWh rate as Intelligent Go, but without the automated scheduling. You set a charging timer on your charger or in your vehicle’s app, and charging happens during the six-hour overnight window. All EVs and PHEVs qualify, and you do not need a specific brand of charger.
The peak daytime rate is approximately 26.35p/kWh. E.ON also offers the standard Next Drive tariff at 9p/kWh with the same overnight window.
Best for: Drivers who prefer a simple set-and-forget timer approach and want compatibility with any EV or charger.
British Gas EV Power
Off-peak rate: 9p/kWh (EV Power); 7.9p/kWh (EV Power+ with Hive charger)
Off-peak window: Midnight–5am (5 hours, whole home)
Smart scheduling: Via Hive smart charger (for EV Power+)
Compatibility: All EVs and charger brands
British Gas EV Power is one of the most straightforward EV tariffs available. No specific charger brand is required, and the whole-home off-peak rate applies during the five-hour overnight window. Customers who install a Hive EV charger can access EV Power+, which drops the rate to 7.9p/kWh.
British Gas also offers PeakSave: half-price electricity on Sundays between 11am and 4pm. For households that shift laundry, cooking, and other high-draw appliances to Sunday afternoons, this adds meaningful additional savings.
Estimated annual savings compared to the Q2 2026 price cap: £330–£490.
Best for: Drivers who want a simple, brand-agnostic EV tariff with an established supplier and bonus weekend savings.
EDF GoElectric
Off-peak rate: 6.99p/kWh (from April 2026)
Off-peak window: 11pm–6am (7 hours, whole home)
Compatibility: All EVs and charger brands
EDF GoElectric offers one of the lowest headline off-peak rates in the UK, and its seven-hour overnight window is the longest of any mainstream EV tariff. The rate was reduced from 8.99p/kWh to 6.99p/kWh in April 2026. This makes EDF GoElectric particularly attractive for drivers with large batteries who need longer overnight charge windows.
Best for: Drivers with large-battery EVs who need long overnight charge windows and want the lowest available per-unit rate.
OVO Charge Anytime
Format: Monthly plans or pay-as-you-go
Standard plan: £27.50/month (700 smart-charged miles + £120 public charging voucher)
Premium plan: £37.50/month (1,000 smart-charged miles + £120 public charging voucher)
PAYG rate: 14p/kWh
OVO Charge Anytime operates differently from the other tariffs listed here. Rather than offering a fixed overnight window rate, OVO uses smart scheduling to find cheap electricity potentially at any time of day, and bills it separately from your home tariff. Plans bundle in public charging value, making it useful for mixed home-and-public charging drivers.
The PAYG rate of 14p/kWh is significantly higher than the dedicated overnight tariffs above. The monthly plans offer better value for consistent home chargers.
Best for: Drivers who also use public charging regularly and value bundled charging value alongside home smart charging.
Smart Tariff vs Standard Rate: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Window | Hours | Whole home? | Smart scheduling? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Intelligent Go | 8p/kWh | 11:30pm–5:30am | 6 | Yes | Yes (automated) |
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | 8p/kWh | 12am–6am | 6 | Yes | Timer-based |
| British Gas EV Power | 9p/kWh | Midnight–5am | 5 | Yes | No |
| British Gas EV Power+ | 7.9p/kWh | Midnight–5am | 5 | Yes | Via Hive charger |
| EDF GoElectric | 6.99p/kWh | 11pm–6am | 7 | Yes | No |
| OVO Charge Anytime (PAYG) | 14p/kWh | Any time | N/A | No | Yes |
| Standard variable (Ofgem Q2 2026) | 24.67p/kWh | All day | 24 | Yes | N/A |
How to Choose the Right EV Smart Tariff
If you want full automation
Octopus Intelligent Go is the best choice if your EV or home charger is on the compatibility list. You plug in, tell the app your target charge level and departure time, and overnight charging is handled automatically. You never need to think about it.
Check compatibility at octopus.energy before signing up. Compatible vehicles include Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Cupra, Nissan, Renault, Porsche, and MINI. Drivers with other vehicles can use a compatible smart charger (Ohme, Zappi, VCHRGD, Hypervolt, Indra, or Andersen) to access the same automated features.
If you want the simplest set-up
E.ON Next Drive Smart or British Gas EV Power work with any EV and any charger. You set a charging timer on your vehicle’s infotainment screen or charger app, and charging completes within the cheap overnight window. These are reliable, no-fuss options for drivers who do not want to set up app integrations.
If you have a large battery EV
EDF GoElectric’s seven-hour window (11pm–6am) is the longest available. For an EV with an 80kWh+ battery charging at 7kW, a seven-hour window provides around 49kWh of capacity — enough for most weekly top-ups.
If you drive high mileage
Prioritise the cheapest per-unit rate and the longest overnight window. EDF GoElectric at 6.99p/kWh and British Gas EV Power+ at 7.9p/kWh compete at the low-cost end. Run the numbers based on your actual annual kWh consumption to find the best deal for your usage.
If you have solar panels
Octopus Flux combines solar export revenue with cheap overnight import rates. To qualify, you need solar panels and a home battery installed by an MCS or Flexi-Orb certified installer. The tariff has three rate bands: cheap overnight import (2am–5am), a standard daytime rate, and a premium export rate during the evening peak (4pm–7pm). An average solar home with a 4.9kWp system and 5.2kWh battery saves around £937 per year on Octopus Flux. See our Octopus Flux guide for the full breakdown.
The Difference Between Smart Tariff Types
Fixed off-peak window tariffs
The majority of EV tariffs (Octopus Intelligent Go, E.ON Next Drive, British Gas EV Power, EDF GoElectric) operate on fixed overnight windows. The rate is the same every night. You know exactly when cheap electricity is available, which makes scheduling simple and predictable.
Half-hourly tariffs
Octopus Agile prices electricity every 30 minutes, based on the wholesale market. Rates can drop below 0p/kWh when there is excess renewable generation on the grid — in which case, you are paid for consuming electricity. Rates can also spike during periods of high demand. Agile suits drivers who are frequently home and willing to use an automation tool to shift charging to the cheapest half-hour slots. It requires active engagement or smart home automation. Read our Octopus Intelligent Go vs Agile comparison to see which approach suits your habits.
Automated smart scheduling
Tariffs like Octopus Intelligent Go go beyond fixed windows. By integrating directly with your EV’s onboard system or with your smart charger, the tariff provider controls when charging starts and stops, always targeting the cheapest and lowest-carbon slots within the overnight window. You set a departure time and minimum battery level; the system does the rest.
How Smart Charging Works with Your Charger
Since June 2022, all new home EV chargers sold in the UK must comply with the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. This means every new charger comes with smart functionality built in — including the ability to schedule charging to off-peak periods.
Most smart chargers use a dedicated app to let you set a schedule. For example:
- The Ohme Home Pro integrates directly with energy tariffs, automatically adjusting charging based on price signals
- The Zappi can prioritise solar generation and delay grid charging to off-peak windows
- The VCHRGD Seven Pro connects to the Octopus ecosystem for fully automated scheduling
You do not need a specific charger to benefit from a cheaper off-peak rate — setting a timer on your car’s built-in controls or on any app-connected charger achieves the same result. However, fully automated tariffs like Octopus Intelligent Go require either a compatible EV or a smart charger on the approved list.
Read our reviews of the best smart chargers to find a model that works with your chosen tariff.
How to Switch to an EV Smart Tariff
Switching to an EV smart tariff follows the same process as any energy switch in the UK:
- Check you have a smart meter. If not, contact your current supplier to arrange a free installation.
- Confirm your EV’s compatibility with the tariff you want (particularly important for Octopus Intelligent Go).
- Get a quote from the new supplier. Most EV tariffs are available to new customers directly from the supplier’s website.
- Initiate the switch. Your new supplier handles the transfer from your old supplier, typically within 5 working days. You do not need to contact your old supplier.
- Set up the app. Connect your EV or charger to the supplier’s app and configure your charging preferences (departure time, target battery level).
- Monitor the first few bills. Check that off-peak consumption is being billed at the correct rate.
There are no exit fees on most standard variable tariffs, but some fixed EV tariffs carry exit fees (Good Energy EV Charge has a £75 fee, for example). Check terms before switching.
Which Chargers Work Best with Smart Tariffs?
The charger you own directly affects how sophisticated your smart tariff integration can be.
Ohme Home Pro is designed from the ground up for tariff integration. It connects directly with Octopus Intelligent Go and adjusts charging in real time based on grid price signals, without you needing to interact with it. It is compatible with all EVs.
Zappi by myenergi prioritises solar generation and can be configured to only draw from the grid during off-peak windows. It works well alongside Octopus Agile and other half-hourly tariffs. The Zappi GLO is on the Octopus Intelligent Go approved list.
VCHRGD Seven Pro is fully integrated into the Octopus ecosystem and is a strong choice for Intelligent Go users who want hardware and software designed to work together.
Hypervolt Home 3 Pro works with Intelligent Go and offers clean integration with the Octopus app.
Indra Smart Pro is on the Octopus Intelligent Go approved list and offers V2G capability, making it suitable for future vehicle-to-grid export.
Browse our full home EV charger comparison for reviews of all the above, with side-by-side specs and pricing.
EV Smart Tariffs and Solar Panels
If you have solar panels, a dedicated EV tariff still adds value — even with free daytime solar generation. There are several hours most nights when solar output is zero, and a cheap overnight rate means you can top up from the grid without eroding the cost savings from your panels.
For solar households with a home battery, Octopus Flux is specifically designed to optimise the full cycle: charge the battery from cheap grid electricity overnight, use solar during the day, and export at premium rates during the evening peak. This can deliver savings of up to £937 per year for a household with a typical 4.9kWp solar installation and 5.2kWh battery.
Read our detailed guide to how Octopus Flux works for solar and EV owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EV smart tariff? An EV smart tariff is a time-of-use electricity tariff that offers a lower per-unit rate (measured in pence per kWh) during off-peak hours, typically overnight between midnight and 6am. EV owners charge their cars during this cheaper window to reduce annual running costs. The Ofgem standard variable rate for Q2 2026 is 24.67p/kWh; leading EV tariffs offer overnight rates of 7–9p/kWh.
Do I need a smart meter to get an EV tariff? Yes. All UK EV smart tariffs require a smart meter capable of sending half-hourly consumption data. If you do not have one, your energy supplier is legally obliged to install it free of charge on request. Installation typically takes one to two weeks.
Which is the cheapest EV tariff in the UK? As of April 2026, EDF GoElectric offers the lowest widely available off-peak rate at 6.99p/kWh, with a seven-hour overnight window. Octopus Intelligent Go and E.ON Next Drive Smart are both at 8p/kWh. Rates change regularly — always check current figures directly with the supplier before switching.
Can any EV use a smart tariff? Yes. All EVs and most plug-in hybrids are compatible with standard time-of-use EV tariffs. Full automated scheduling (as offered by Octopus Intelligent Go) requires either a compatible EV with an accessible charging API (Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen group, Renault, and others) or a compatible smart charger such as an Ohme, Zappi, VCHRGD, or Hypervolt.
Is it worth switching to an EV smart tariff? For the vast majority of UK EV drivers who charge at home, yes. At 8p/kWh overnight versus 24.67p/kWh on a standard tariff, a driver covering 7,000 miles per year saves approximately £330 annually on charging alone. Drivers covering more miles or charging larger batteries save proportionally more.
Key Takeaways
- EV smart tariffs offer off-peak overnight rates of 7–9p/kWh compared to 24.67p/kWh on a standard variable tariff — a saving of 61–72% per unit.
- Most UK drivers who switch to a dedicated EV tariff save between £300 and £500 per year on home charging.
- Octopus Intelligent Go is the UK’s most popular EV tariff, with automated scheduling and direct integration with over 280 EV models and chargers.
- All UK EV smart tariffs require a smart meter; your supplier must install one free of charge on request.
- Drivers with solar panels and a home battery should consider Octopus Flux, which can save an average solar household up to £937 per year.
- Switching to an EV smart tariff takes five working days and is handled by the new supplier — you do not need to contact your existing supplier.
Useful Resources
Ofgem — Energy price cap and consumer guides
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/
Energy Saving Trust — Smart charging for electric vehicles
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/smart-charging-electric-vehicles/
GOV.UK — Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1467/contents/made
Money Saving Expert — EV energy tariffs guide
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/ev-energy-tariffs/
Octopus Energy — Intelligent Go tariff
https://octopus.energy/smart/intelligent-octopus-go/