OVO Energy’s EV charging product is called Charge Anytime. Unlike the fixed overnight window tariffs offered by Octopus, E.ON, and British Gas, OVO operates a different model: monthly plans with bundled mileage allowances, or a pay-as-you-go smart charging rate at any time of day.
This guide covers how OVO Charge Anytime works, the current plan costs, and how it compares to other UK EV tariffs.
How OVO Charge Anytime Works
OVO Charge Anytime changed significantly from 4 November 2025. Rather than offering a simple overnight unit rate, OVO now sells EV charging as a separate product alongside your standard home energy tariff.
Your normal home electricity tariff remains unchanged. EV charging is billed separately through Charge Anytime, which uses smart scheduling to find cheaper grid periods — potentially at any time of day, not just overnight.
This means:
- Your household electricity bill stays on your existing OVO tariff
- Your EV charging is managed and billed separately through Charge Anytime
- OVO’s scheduling algorithm finds the cheapest available slots across the day
OVO Charge Anytime Plans (2026)
Standard Plan — £27.50 per month
- 700 miles of smart-scheduled home charging per month
- £120 public charging voucher (annual)
- Smart scheduling via the OVO Drive app
The Standard Plan is designed for drivers covering around 8,000 miles per year. If your monthly home charging requirement is broadly equivalent to 700 miles, the Standard Plan covers it for a fixed monthly cost.
Premium Plan — £37.50 per month
- 1,000 miles of smart-scheduled home charging per month
- £120 public charging voucher (annual)
- Smart scheduling via the OVO Drive app
The Premium Plan suits higher-mileage drivers — approximately 12,000 miles per year home-charged.
Pay As You Go (PAYG)
OVO also offers a PAYG rate of 14p per kWh for smart-scheduled charging at any time of day. This applies to electricity consumed through the Charge Anytime system outside a monthly plan.
Is OVO Charge Anytime Good Value?
The monthly plan structure is OVO’s key differentiator. Rather than a per-unit rate that varies with your mileage, you pay a fixed monthly amount regardless of your exact kWh consumption within the mileage allowance.
For drivers whose home charging broadly matches the 700-mile or 1,000-mile plan tiers, the effective cost per mile works out as follows:
| Plan | Monthly cost | Miles included | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | £27.50 | 700 | ~3.9p/mile |
| Premium | £37.50 | 1,000 | ~3.75p/mile |
For comparison, Octopus Intelligent Go at 8p/kWh costs approximately 2.3p per mile for an EV averaging 3.5 miles/kWh.
The PAYG rate of 14p/kWh is considerably higher than competing fixed overnight tariffs. For pure unit-rate comparison, Octopus Intelligent Go (8p/kWh), E.ON Next Drive Smart (8p/kWh), and EDF GoElectric (6.99p/kWh) all offer lower overnight charging costs.
The monthly plans make most sense for drivers who also need and use the £120 public charging voucher — roughly equivalent to 2–3 public charge sessions. If you regularly use public chargers and want to bundle home and public charging costs into a predictable monthly payment, OVO’s model has appeal.
The £120 Public Charging Voucher
Both OVO Charge Anytime monthly plans include an annual £120 public charging credit. This can be used at public charge points in the OVO network or with compatible charging providers. The credit is equivalent to approximately:
- 2–3 mid-range public rapid charges at an average public rate of 54p/kWh
- Or a larger number of cheaper overnight or slower public sessions
For drivers who primarily charge at home, the £120 voucher may not represent significant value. For those who regularly use motorway charging or urban rapid chargers, it offsets a meaningful portion of public charging costs.
How OVO Charge Anytime Compares to Other Tariffs
| Product | Cost | Off-peak rate | Smart scheduling? | Public charging included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVO Charge Anytime Standard | £27.50/month (700 mi) | 14p/kWh PAYG | Yes | £120 voucher |
| Octopus Intelligent Go | Unit rate (8p/kWh) | 8p/kWh | Yes (automated) | No |
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | Unit rate (8p/kWh) | 8p/kWh | Timer-based | No |
| British Gas EV Power | Unit rate (9p/kWh) | 9p/kWh | No | No |
| EDF GoElectric | Unit rate (6.99p/kWh) | 6.99p/kWh | No | No |
For drivers purely focused on home charging cost, the fixed overnight tariffs from Octopus, E.ON, or EDF offer better per-unit economics than OVO Charge Anytime’s PAYG rate. OVO’s competitive advantage is the bundled structure for mixed home and public charging users.
For a full side-by-side of all current UK EV tariffs, see our EV tariff comparison hub and EV smart tariff guide.
What You Need to Sign Up for OVO Charge Anytime
- An OVO home energy account (or switching to OVO)
- A smart meter with half-hourly data sharing enabled
- An electric vehicle registered in the UK
- A home EV charger compatible with OVO Charge Anytime (check compatibility at ovoenergy.com)
How to Sign Up
- Log in to your OVO account (or sign up as a new customer at ovoenergy.com).
- Navigate to the Charge Anytime section and select your preferred plan.
- Confirm your EV details and charger compatibility.
- Download the OVO Drive app and connect your charging setup.
- OVO’s scheduling system begins optimising your charging sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OVO Charge Anytime? OVO Charge Anytime is OVO Energy’s EV charging product. It offers monthly plans (Standard at £27.50/month or Premium at £37.50/month) with bundled home charging mileage allowances and a £120 annual public charging voucher, or a PAYG rate of 14p/kWh for smart-scheduled charging at any time of day.
Is OVO Charge Anytime competitive with other EV tariffs? For pure home charging cost per unit, no. The PAYG rate of 14p/kWh is nearly double Octopus Intelligent Go (8p/kWh) or E.ON Next Drive Smart (8p/kWh). The monthly plans offer predictable costs and bundled public charging value, which suits some driver profiles but is not the cheapest way to charge at home.
Does OVO Charge Anytime require a specific charger? You need a compatible smart charger. Check the OVO website for the current compatibility list before signing up.
Can I keep my current OVO home tariff and add Charge Anytime? Yes. OVO Charge Anytime is an add-on to your existing OVO home energy account. Your home electricity tariff remains unchanged; EV charging is billed separately.
What is the OVO Charge Anytime PAYG rate? 14p per kWh for smart-scheduled charging at any time of day. This is higher than the dedicated overnight rates available from Octopus, E.ON, EDF, and British Gas.
Key Takeaways
- OVO Charge Anytime uses monthly plans (Standard: £27.50/month for 700 miles; Premium: £37.50/month for 1,000 miles) with a £120 annual public charging voucher.
- The PAYG rate of 14p/kWh is significantly higher than competing overnight tariffs from Octopus (8p/kWh), E.ON (8p/kWh), and EDF (6.99p/kWh).
- OVO’s bundled model suits drivers who regularly use public charging and want predictable combined home and public charging costs.
- For pure home charging savings, fixed overnight tariffs offer better per-unit economics.
- A compatible smart charger is required to use Charge Anytime.
Useful Resources
OVO Energy — Charge Anytime
https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/charge-anytime
Energy Saving Trust — Smart charging for EVs
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/smart-charging-electric-vehicles/
Money Saving Expert — EV energy tariffs
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/ev-energy-tariffs/