Octopus Energy is the UK’s most popular EV electricity supplier, and for good reason. Their two main EV tariffs, Intelligent Octopus Go and Octopus Go, consistently rank among the best available for home charging. If you drive an electric vehicle and charge at home, Octopus is the benchmark everything else is measured against.
This review covers both tariffs in full — what they cost, how they work, who they suit, and where they fall short.
Intelligent Octopus Go — the flagship tariff
Intelligent Octopus Go is Octopus Energy’s premium EV tariff and the one most drivers should consider first. It offers an 8p/kWh off-peak rate with smart dispatch, which means your car and charger negotiate with the grid to find the cheapest slots available — not just the standard overnight window.
Rather than being tied to a fixed 4-hour block, Intelligent Octopus Go guarantees at least six hours of cheap electricity overnight (typically 11pm to 5am) and uses your car’s battery management system or smart charger to top up at the optimal moments. If wholesale electricity prices drop during the day, the system can use those cheaper slots too.
Who is Intelligent Octopus Go best for? Drivers with a compatible smart charger or electric vehicle who want the lowest overall charging cost and are comfortable letting software manage their schedule.
Octopus Go — the simpler option
Octopus Go is the fixed-window alternative. You get a cheap rate of 9.5p/kWh between 00:30 and 04:30 every night — that’s it. No smart dispatch, no compatibility requirements beyond a basic smart meter.
It works with any electric vehicle and any home charger. You simply set a timer on your car or charger to charge during the 00:30–04:30 window and you’ll get the cheaper rate automatically.
Who is Octopus Go best for? Drivers who want a simpler overnight tariff without smart dispatch, or whose EV or charger is not on the Intelligent Octopus compatibility list.
EV tariff comparison: both Octopus options
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Off-peak window | Standing charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Octopus Go | 8p/kWh | Smart dispatch (typically 11pm–5am) | 53p/day |
| Octopus Go | 9.5p/kWh | 00:30–04:30 daily (4 hours) | 53p/day |
Both tariffs cover your whole home during off-peak hours, not just EV charging. Running your dishwasher or washing machine overnight extends the saving further.
Smart meter and compatibility requirements
Both tariffs require a SMETS2 smart meter. Octopus Energy will arrange installation free of charge if you don’t have one, though availability varies by region.
Intelligent Octopus Go additionally requires either a compatible electric vehicle or a compatible smart charger. Octopus maintains an up-to-date compatibility list on their website. Most major EVs from Volkswagen, Tesla, Kia, Hyundai, and BMW are supported. Compatible chargers include Ohme, Indra, and others with Octopus API integration.
If your car is not on the list, Octopus Go remains available without any compatibility requirements beyond the smart meter.
The Octopus Energy app
The Octopus app is the best-in-class for EV tariff management in the UK. You can view your half-hourly consumption, set charging targets, check your carbon intensity, and see exactly what you’ve spent on charging versus household use.
Octopus also integrates with the Electroverse charging network, allowing you to add public charging costs to your home energy bill or pay separately. Access covers over 300,000 charge points across the UK and Europe.
Who should consider a different tariff?
Octopus’s peak rate of 33.72p/kWh is higher than EDF Energy (25.66p/kWh) and E.ON Next (28.25p/kWh). If your household uses a lot of electricity during the day — for instance because someone works from home — the lower day rate at EDF or E.ON Next may more than offset the slightly higher overnight rate.
So Energy’s SO EV tariff also undercuts Octopus on off-peak rate at 6.5p/kWh, making it the better pick for high-mileage drivers who care primarily about the overnight rate.
Our verdict on Octopus Energy EV tariffs
Intelligent Octopus Go remains our top overall recommendation for most UK EV drivers. The smart dispatch, zero-carbon electricity, excellent app, and wide compatibility make it the most rounded package available. Octopus Go is a solid fallback if your setup isn’t compatible.
The main caveat is the peak rate. If you use significant daytime electricity, compare EDF Energy’s GoElectric Overnight before committing.
Switching offer: Switch to the UK’s most awarded energy supplier! Switch to Octopus Energy and you’ll get £50 credit once your switch is complete. Existing customer? Find out how you can benefit too. T&Cs apply (only one switching offer per household).
This page contains affiliate links to Octopus Energy. BestChargers.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Octopus Energy. Recommendations are based on our own research and editorial judgement.
How Octopus Energy compares
See how this tariff stacks up against the best alternatives.
| Tariff | Off-peak | Peak | Window | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Octopus Go Octopus Energy | 8p/kWh | 33.72p/kWh | Smart dispatch (typically 11pm–5am) | Switch |
| SO EV So Energy | 6.5p/kWh | 27.82p/kWh | Overnight off-peak | View |
| Drive Smart E.ON Next | 8p/kWh | 28.25p/kWh | Smart dispatch | View |
| GoElectric Overnight EDF Energy | 9p/kWh | 25.66p/kWh | 00:00–07:00 daily | View |
Rates correct as of April 2026. Always check with providers before switching.
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