The number of UK households on a dedicated EV tariff grew by 84% in the 12 months to July 2025, from 354,000 to 653,000 customers.1 Charging an electric car on a standard variable tariff at 24.5p/kWh is expensive. The cheapest EV charging home UK drivers can access sits at 7.5p/kWh overnight on Intelligent Octopus Go.
For a typical EV driver covering 8,000 miles a year, the gap is roughly £400 a year. Push past 25,000 miles and it exceeds £1,000. Most EV owners are still on a standard tariff. Some have never heard of EV tariffs; others assume the setup is fiddly. Neither holds up.
How SwitchInsights put this guide together: we weighted each tariff across off-peak rate, smart-dispatch capability, whole-home eligibility and switching simplicity. Rates come from each supplier's May 2026 EV tariff documentation and Ofgem retail data, cross-checked against the Q2 2026 cap.
How an EV tariff UK 2026 deal works
An EV tariff is a form of time of use tariff electric car drivers can sign up to. The unit rate varies by time of day. Peak hours, usually daytime and early evening, cost more. Off-peak hours, usually overnight, cost much less.
The logic is grid management: overnight demand is low, renewables often run high, and the grid benefits when load shifts to quieter windows. An EV battery is a large, flexible load that does not care when it charges, provided it is ready in the morning.
Every smart meter EV tariff in the UK needs a meter capable of sending half-hourly reads. Without one, the supplier cannot apply the lower rate. Installation is free if you do not yet have one.
Two types of EV tariff: two-rate tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go and British Gas EV Power apply the off-peak rate to the whole home, so the dishwasher and washing machine also run overnight at the lower price. Add-on tariffs like OVO Charge Anytime apply the discount only to the EV charger, with the rest of the home staying on your existing tariff.
EV tariff comparison UK: the main options
Smart dispatch: yes, 280+ compatible EVs and chargers
Peak rate: ~24p/kWh, varies by region
Apply on Octopus →
Smart dispatch: no, manual scheduling
Indicative saving: ~£330/year for an average driver
Apply on British Gas →
Smart dispatch: yes, around the clock
Indicative saving: £200-350/year vs standard
Apply on OVO →
Smart dispatch: via compatible charger
Note: rates vary by region
Apply on E.ON Next →
The real-world EV home charging cost
The savings scale with how much you drive. The more you charge at home, the bigger the gap. The table below sets out the real-world EV home charging cost for a mid-size EV at roughly 4 miles per kWh, across three usage profiles, comparing the standard Q2 2026 cap rate against the Intelligent Octopus Go overnight EV charging rate.
| Annual mileage | kWh needed | Cost at 24.5p | Cost at 7.5p | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 miles | 1,250 kWh | £306 | £94 | £212 |
| 8,800 miles (UK average) | 2,200 kWh | £539 | £165 | £374 |
| 15,000 miles | 3,750 kWh | £919 | £281 | £638 |
| 25,000 miles (high-mileage) | 6,250 kWh | £1,531 | £469 | £1,062 |
Assumes 4 miles/kWh. Charging only, excluding standing charges. Intelligent Octopus Go 7.5p/kWh; Q2 2026 cap 24.5p/kWh.
Shifting the dishwasher, washing machine and immersion heater overnight on a two-rate tariff can add a further £50-150 a year.
What you need to switch to an EV tariff
- A smart meter. Non-negotiable. Most meters fitted from 2019 qualify; older SMETS1 units may not communicate with every supplier.
- A home EV charger or compatible vehicle. For smart-dispatch tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go you need a compatible charger or directly integrated EV. The Octopus app lists 280+ supported models.
- The ability to charge overnight. Off-street parking makes this straightforward. Without it, an EV tariff helps less because public chargers run at their own commercial rates.
Watch the peak rate. EV tariffs save overnight but typically run a higher peak rate than a standard variable tariff. Households that use heavy electricity during the day can give back some of the overnight gain.
Intelligent Octopus Go review: smart dispatch
The most sophisticated EV tariffs go beyond fixed off-peak windows. Our Intelligent Octopus Go review verdict is straightforward: it integrates directly with compatible EVs and smart chargers, and the overnight EV charging rate of 7.5p is the lowest most drivers can access.
You set a ready-by time in the Octopus app, say 7am. The system then decides when within the overnight window to charge, based on grid demand, renewables and battery state. You get cheap, low-carbon electricity without thinking about it.
OVO Charge Anytime takes the same approach but applies the rate only to the EV charger rather than the whole home. The system dispatches charging at the cheapest and greenest moments around the clock, not just during a fixed overnight window. The 14p rate is less competitive than Octopus for high-mileage drivers.
Who benefits most from each EV tariff:
Intelligent Octopus Go suits high-mileage drivers with a compatible EV or charger willing to switch their whole home to Octopus.
British Gas EV Power works for drivers who prefer a major supplier and do not need smart dispatch.
OVO Charge Anytime fits drivers who want to keep their existing home tariff and only want a smarter rate for EV charging.
How to switch to EV tariff in 2026
Switching to an EV tariff works like any other energy switch. If your current supplier offers one, you can usually move on to it without a full supplier switch, just a tariff change on your account. If a different supplier is cheaper, a full switch takes 5 working days and the supply is uninterrupted.
Before committing, check three things: that your smart meter is compatible with the new supplier; that your vehicle or charger is on the smart-dispatch compatibility list if you want that feature; and that the new peak rate would not increase total household costs given your usage pattern. Apply directly on the supplier's own website - Octopus, British Gas, OVO and E.ON Next each run their own switching calculator that factors in your specific consumption.
Our take: if you own an EV, charge at home, and you are not on a dedicated EV tariff, you are overpaying. The savings are real and the switching process is straightforward. For a high-mileage driver it is one of the biggest energy decisions to make this year.
EV tariff UK 2026: FAQ
What is the best EV tariff in the UK in 2026?
For most drivers, Intelligent Octopus Go: 7.5p/kWh overnight, whole-home, with smart dispatch across 280+ EVs and chargers. British Gas EV Power follows at 9p/kWh whole-home (manual scheduling), and OVO Charge Anytime sits at 14p/kWh on the EV charger only - good if you want to keep your existing home tariff.
How much can an EV tariff save on home charging?
For an average UK driver covering 8,800 miles a year, an EV tariff saves around £374 on charging compared with the 24.5p Q2 2026 cap rate. High-mileage drivers covering 25,000 miles save over £1,000. Shifting other overnight loads on a two-rate tariff can add another £50-150.
Do you need a smart meter for an EV tariff?
Yes - every UK EV tariff needs a meter that sends half-hourly reads. Most meters fitted from 2019 onward qualify; older SMETS1 units may not talk to every supplier. If you do not have one, your supplier will install it for free, usually within a few weeks of booking.
What is Intelligent Octopus Go and how does it work?
Intelligent Octopus Go is Octopus Energy's smart-dispatch EV tariff. The 7.5p/kWh off-peak rate runs 11:30pm-5:30am and covers the whole home. You plug in, set a "ready by" time in the Octopus app, and the system picks the cheapest, greenest moments within the window to charge. It works with 280+ EVs and home chargers.
OVO Charge Anytime vs Intelligent Octopus Go: which is better?
Intelligent Octopus Go is cheaper (7.5p vs 14p) and covers the whole home, but means switching your full supply to Octopus. OVO Charge Anytime applies the rate only to the EV charger, so the rest of the home stays on your existing OVO tariff. Octopus wins on savings; OVO wins if you prefer to leave your home tariff alone.
How do I switch to an EV tariff?
Four steps:
- Pick the right tariff for your mileage and charger setup (see the comparison cards above).
- Check you have a half-hourly smart meter. If not, book a free install with your current supplier first.
- Apply on the supplier's website. If it is your current supplier, it is a tariff change on your account (usually live within a few days). If it is a new supplier, it is a full switch - takes about 5 working days, supply is uninterrupted and your old supplier handles the closure automatically.
- Connect your EV or charger in the supplier's app if the tariff uses smart dispatch (Intelligent Octopus Go, OVO Charge Anytime).
You will need a recent meter reading, your EV make and model, and your home charger details if you have one.
Does an EV tariff make sense without off-street parking?
Usually not for the EV side - public chargers run at their own commercial rates and ignore your home tariff. A two-rate EV tariff can still pay off if you shift the dishwasher, washing machine and immersion heater to the cheap overnight window. Otherwise, a standard tariff with a good off-peak hour (or Octopus Agile) may suit you better.