E.ON Next Drive Review 2026: Drive and Drive Smart EV Tariffs Compared

E.ON Next’s Drive and Drive Smart tariffs are the strongest competitors to Intelligent Octopus Go and deserve serious consideration from any UK EV driver comparing their options. Drive Smart, in particular, is only half a penny above Octopus on the overnight rate and significantly undercuts it on the daytime rate, which makes a material difference for households that use electricity during the day.

This review covers both tariffs, explains the compatibility requirements for smart charging, and helps you decide whether Drive Smart or Drive is the right fit.

Drive Smart vs Drive: which is which?

E.ON Next offers two dedicated EV tariffs under the Drive brand:

Next Drive Smart is the smart charging variant. Your whole home pays 8.1p/kWh from midnight to 6am, and charging that the E.ON Next Home app schedules at other times is billed at the same rate. Requires a compatible smart charger or EV. Includes 100% renewable electricity. Available on a 12-month fixed term with no exit fee.

Next Drive is the fixed-window variant. It offers a 9.53p/kWh off-peak rate from midnight to 6am with no smart device requirement. Works with any EV and any home charger. A higher overnight rate but simpler setup.

Both are whole-home tariffs: the cheap rate applies to all your electricity use during the off-peak hours, not just your EV charging. Rates are correct as of October 2026 and include 0% VAT, which applies to household electricity in Great Britain until 31 March 2027.

The peak rate advantage

The headline reason to consider Drive Smart over Intelligent Octopus Go is the peak rate. Drive Smart’s day rate averages 31.68p/kWh across the UK regions. Intelligent Octopus Go’s averages 36.70p/kWh. That is a difference of 5.02p per unit.

For a household using 4,000kWh per year at peak times, the difference is around £219 a year in favour of Drive Smart. If your household draws significant power during the day, because someone works from home, you have electric heating, or your appliances run during waking hours, Drive Smart is very likely to deliver better overall annual savings than Intelligent Octopus Go.

	Next Drive Smart	Intelligent Octopus Go
Off-peak rate	8.1p/kWh	7.6p/kWh
Off-peak window	00:00–06:00 plus smart slots	23:30–05:30 plus smart slots
Peak rate (average)	31.68p/kWh	36.70p/kWh
Standing charge (average)	57p/day	54p/day
Exit fee	None	£50
Green electricity	Yes (100%)	Yes (100%)

What smart charging does on Drive Smart

When your car is plugged in, E.ON Next schedules charging during lower-cost periods, day or night, and bills that charging at 8.1p/kWh. Your whole home gets the same low rate while those sessions run. You set a target charge level and ready-by time; the system handles the scheduling. If you need to charge immediately, the Boost feature overrides the schedule, and boost charging during peak hours is billed at the peak rate.

Compatible smart chargers include select models from Ohme, Indra, and others. E.ON Next’s compatible device list is smaller than Octopus Energy’s, so confirm your specific charger and car model before switching.

Next Drive for drivers without a compatible setup

If your car or charger is not on the E.ON Next compatibility list, Next Drive is the appropriate tariff. It offers 9.53p/kWh from midnight to 6am, a six-hour window with no smart dispatch requirement. The peak rate on Next Drive averages 32.85p/kWh, which remains below Octopus Go’s 35.30p/kWh, making it a strong option for drivers who want a simpler fixed-window tariff with a competitive day rate.

Which tariff to choose

If you have a compatible smart charger or EV and use significant electricity during the day, Drive Smart is likely to be among the two best available EV tariffs, alongside Intelligent Octopus Go. Model your full annual bill, not just the overnight rate, before deciding between them.

If you do not have a compatible device, Next Drive is a solid alternative to Octopus Go: matching it on simplicity, offering a longer window, beating it on the day rate, and with no exit fee.

Compare all current options on our EV tariffs comparison.

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