So Energy EV Tariff Review 2026

So Energy’s SO EV tariff offers a competitive 8.8p/kWh overnight rate across a simple midnight-to-5am window, with no smart hardware requirements. It once held the cheapest overnight rate in the UK; after recent repricing it now sits just behind the 8p smart dispatch tariffs, and its 35.35p/kWh peak rate is the highest in our comparison.

This review covers the SO EV tariff in full: what it costs, what it doesn’t offer, and who it’s best suited to.

How the SO EV tariff works

SO EV is a whole-home time-of-use tariff. During the overnight off-peak window (00:00–05:00), you pay 8.8p/kWh for all electricity consumed in your home; not just for EV charging. This means your dishwasher, washing machine, and other overnight appliances all benefit from the cheaper rate.

There is no smart dispatch. You set your home charger or EV to charge during the overnight window using your car or charger’s built-in timer. So Energy does not integrate with your vehicle or charger for automatic scheduling.

A SMETS2 smart meter is required. If you don’t have one, So Energy will arrange installation free of charge, though timescales vary.

The rate advantage: how much can you save?

At 8.8p/kWh overnight versus an average standard rate of approximately 26.35p/kWh, the saving per kWh is 17.55p. For a typical 60kWh EV battery charged from empty:

• SO EV cost: £5.28
• Average standard rate cost: £15.81
• Saving per full charge: approximately £10.53

For a driver covering 10,000 miles per year in a 3.5 miles-per-kWh car, annual charging energy is approximately 2,857 kWh. At 8.8p versus 26.35p, the annual saving from switching to SO EV is approximately £501 on charging alone.

Note that Intelligent Octopus Go and E.ON Next Drive Smart both charge 8p/kWh overnight, saving a further £23 per year at the same mileage; though both require a compatible smart charger or EV.

Peak rate context

The 35.35p/kWh peak rate is the highest in our comparison. It sits above Octopus (33.72p), Good Energy (32.1p), E.ON Next Drive (29.75p), and far above British Gas (25p). If your household uses much electricity during the day, that peak rate can erode the overnight savings quickly.

Provider	Off-peak	Peak
So Energy SO EV	8.8p/kWh	35.35p/kWh
Octopus Intelligent Go	8p/kWh	33.72p/kWh
E.ON Next Drive Smart	8p/kWh	27.76p/kWh
EDF GoElectric Overnight	9p/kWh	26.69p/kWh
British Gas EV Tariff	9p/kWh	25p/kWh

Charger and vehicle compatibility

SO EV works with any home EV charger and any electric vehicle. You need a smart meter, but there are no smart dispatch compatibility requirements. This makes it accessible to drivers with older EVs, non-smart chargers, or anyone who simply prefers a predictable manual schedule.

Who is SO EV best for?

• Overnight-only chargers whose daytime electricity use is minimal, so the high peak rate rarely applies
• Drivers with any charger or EV who can’t access smart dispatch tariffs and want to beat the 9p fixed-window rates
• Households that run appliances overnight and want the whole-home off-peak benefit
• Drivers who prefer a simple fixed window over app-managed smart scheduling

Who should consider other options?

If you want smart dispatch (automated scheduling that finds the cheapest charging slots), So Energy doesn’t offer it. Octopus Intelligent Go and E.ON Next Drive Smart are the options to consider, and both beat SO EV’s overnight rate.

If green energy is a priority, Good Energy offers 100% renewable electricity and Octopus Energy supplies 100% zero-carbon electricity (combining renewable and low-carbon sources). So Energy’s SO EV does not specify its energy sourcing.

For households with meaningful daytime electricity consumption, the 35.35p/kWh peak rate is a real drawback. British Gas Electric Driver (25p peak) or EDF GoElectric Overnight (26.69p peak) will almost certainly work out cheaper overall.

So Energy as a supplier

So Energy is a smaller UK supplier that has grown steadily since launching in 2015. They have built a reputation for competitive pricing and reasonable customer service, though their digital tools and app are less developed than those at Octopus or British Gas.

Before switching, confirm the current standing charge with So Energy. Standing charges are not prominently listed in all comparisons and can affect the total cost calculation, particularly for smaller households with lower overall consumption.

Our verdict on So Energy SO EV

SO EV is a reasonable pick for drivers who charge almost exclusively overnight and cannot access a smart dispatch tariff. The 8.8p/kWh overnight rate undercuts the 9p and 9.5p fixed-window rivals, but the 35.35p/kWh peak rate, the highest in our comparison, makes it a poor fit for households with normal daytime electricity use.

The absence of smart dispatch is the other limitation. If your charger or car is on the Octopus or E.ON compatibility lists, the 8p smart tariffs beat SO EV on the overnight rate and hammer it on the day rate. Run the numbers on your full household usage, not just the headline overnight figure, before switching.