E.ON Next EV Tariffs Review 2026

E.ON Next is one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers and offers two dedicated EV tariffs: Drive Smart (with smart charging) and Drive (fixed overnight window). Both are strong performers, and Drive Smart has one standout advantage: an average peak rate of 30.82p/kWh, the lowest of any EV tariff we track with a cheap window of five hours or more.

If your household uses electricity during the day and you want the combined benefit of a cheap overnight EV rate and a lower day rate, E.ON Next is the most compelling option alongside Octopus.

Drive Smart: E.ON Next’s flagship EV tariff

Drive Smart gives your whole home 8.1p/kWh every night from midnight to 6am. When your car is plugged in, the E.ON Next Home app also schedules charging into lower-cost periods during the day, and that charging is billed at the same 8.1p/kWh; your whole home benefits from the low rate while those sessions run.

At 8.1p/kWh, the off-peak rate is 0.5p above Intelligent Octopus Go’s 7.6p. But the 30.82p/kWh average peak rate is significantly cheaper than Octopus’s 36.70p average; a saving of almost 6p on every unit used during the day. For a household using 8kWh during peak hours daily, that is about £172 a year saved on non-charging electricity alone.

Who suits Drive Smart? EV drivers in households with meaningful daytime electricity consumption: home workers, families at home, households with electric heating or heat pumps.

Drive: the fixed-window option

E.ON Next Drive offers a fixed overnight window from midnight to 6am at 9.53p/kWh, which E.ON describes as 42 off-peak hours every week. There is less automation: you set your charger or car timer to charge within the window manually.

Drive is still competitive at 9.53p/kWh, and its average peak rate of 31.99p/kWh remains well below Octopus. It works with any charger or EV, with no smart dispatch compatibility requirements.

Tariff	Off-peak rate	Off-peak window	Peak rate (average)	Standing charge
Drive Smart	8.1p/kWh	00:00–06:00 plus smart slots	30.82p/kWh	57p/day
Drive	9.53p/kWh	00:00–06:00 daily	31.99p/kWh	57p/day

Rates are correct as of October 2026 and include 0% VAT, which applies to household electricity in Great Britain until 31 March 2027. Peak rates vary by region; the standing charge is the same everywhere. Both tariffs are 12-month fixes with no exit fee.

Smart dispatch and compatibility

E.ON Next’s smart charging works with a range of compatible EVs and chargers, though the compatibility list is smaller than Octopus Energy’s. Check E.ON Next’s website for your specific vehicle and charger model before applying.

A SMETS2 smart meter is required for both tariffs. E.ON Next will install one free of charge if you don’t already have an eligible meter.

App and account management

The E.ON Next Home app allows you to set charging targets, view your energy usage, and manage your account. It handles the essentials well but is less feature-rich than the Octopus app in terms of real-time pricing data and third-party integrations.

E.ON Next does not currently offer a public charging network equivalent to Octopus Electroverse, though public charge access is less of a deciding factor for home-charging tariff choice.

Renewable energy

Drive Smart is backed by 100% renewable electricity. E.ON Next sources power from wind, solar, and hydro projects and provides an annual fuel mix certificate showing the source breakdown.

Who should consider E.ON Next over Octopus?

If your household uses significant daytime electricity and the 5.5p/kWh gap between E.ON Next’s and Octopus’s average peak rates is meaningful to you, E.ON Next Drive Smart is the smarter pick overall. E.ON Next also charges no exit fee, while Octopus’s EV tariffs currently carry a £50 exit fee.

If overnight rate alone is your priority and your car is compatible, Intelligent Octopus Go’s 7.6p/kWh rate and wider smart dispatch ecosystem give it the edge, with E.ON Next Drive Smart 0.5p/kWh behind.

Our verdict on E.ON Next EV tariffs

Drive Smart is an excellent tariff that doesn’t get enough attention compared to Octopus. The 30.82p/kWh average peak rate makes it genuinely compelling for households that use power during the day, the 8.1p/kWh off-peak rate is fully competitive, and there is no exit fee. Drive is a capable fixed-window alternative for drivers who don’t need smart charging.

Our recommendation: if your EV isn’t on Octopus’s compatibility list, or your household uses a lot of electricity during the day, E.ON Next Drive Smart is the best option for smart charging.