Best EV tariff UK 2026: cheapest overnight charging rates compared.

The biggest lever on your EV running costs is not which charger you buy: it is what you pay for electricity. At the standard UK unit rate of around 24.5p/kWh, filling a 60kWh battery from flat costs roughly £14.70. On the best overnight EV tariff at 7.5p/kWh, the same charge costs £4.50. That is a saving of £10.20 for a single full charge.

For a driver covering 15,000 miles per year in a car averaging 3.5 miles per kWh, that works out to roughly 4,300 kWh of home charging annually. At the standard rate: £1,054. On Octopus Go: £323. Annual saving: around £730.

By contrast, the difference in installed cost between a Pod Point (£800) and an Ohme Home Pro (£1,050) is £250. You recover that in four months of overnight charging on a good tariff. Sorted the tariff first: then worry about the charger.

Not all EV tariffs are equal, and the right one for you depends on your charging habits and car. The key variables to compare:

Most EV tariffs require a smart meter. If you do not have one, your supplier will arrange a free installation before switching you to the EV tariff.

Intelligent Octopus Go is the most convenient option if your car supports it. The rate is the same as standard Octopus Go (around 7.5p/kWh at the time of writing), but instead of a fixed 5-hour window you get a flexible charging period of 6+ hours within a midnight–9am range, and Octopus communicates directly with your car or charger to find the optimal slots automatically.

In practice, this means you plug in when you get home and forget about it. The system charges your car in the cheapest available windows without you needing to schedule anything. On Octopus Agile (where wholesale prices vary every 30 minutes), this can push savings even further.

Compatible EVs as of 2026 include most Tesla models, the Volkswagen Group electric range (ID.3, ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, Audi Q4 e-tron, Cupra Born), Polestar 2, and Jaguar I-PACE. The Ohme Home Pro and some Hypervolt chargers also integrate directly without requiring a compatible vehicle. Octopus publishes an up-to-date compatibility list on their website.

Day rate: approximately 24.5p/kWh. Standing charge: around 38–45p/day depending on region.

Best for: anyone with a compatible EV or charger who wants automatic optimisation without manual scheduling.

If your car or charger is not compatible with Intelligent Octopus, standard Octopus Go is the next best option. It gives you a fixed cheap rate of around 7.5p/kWh from midnight to 5am every night. You set your charger or car to start at midnight (or by midnight if your car has departure scheduling) and it charges through until 5am.

For most drivers who charge overnight on a consistent schedule, this is entirely sufficient. The 5-hour window at 7kW delivers up to 35kWh: enough to add around 120 miles of range to most EVs. If you plug in at midnight with a half-full battery, you will almost certainly be at full charge or close to it by 5am.

Day rate: approximately 24.5p/kWh. Standing charge: around 38–45p/day depending on region.

Best for: any smart EV charger or EV with departure scheduling, regardless of car brand.

OVO's EV tariff offers a low overnight rate (typically 7–9p/kWh) during a set off-peak window. The exact rate and window change periodically, so check OVO's current terms before switching.

OVO EV Everywhere also includes a greener electricity mix and OVO's tree-planting programme, which appeals to drivers who want to reduce the carbon footprint of their charging as well as the cost. The app gives clear visibility of your usage and cost per session.

Best for: existing OVO customers who do not want to change supplier, or drivers who want an EV tariff with a focus on green energy.

E.ON's dedicated EV tariff provides a low overnight rate, typically around 9p/kWh, during the standard overnight off-peak hours. E.ON has a wide installer network and their own EV charger hardware, which integrates with the tariff directly.

For existing E.ON customers, switching to E.ON Drive is straightforward and avoids the need to switch supplier. The rate is slightly above the Octopus offerings, but the convenience of staying with your existing supplier may outweigh the marginal difference for many households.

Best for: existing E.ON customers wanting simplicity.

EDF offers the GoElectric tariff for EV drivers, with an overnight off-peak rate of around 9p/kWh. EDF is one of the larger UK suppliers with good customer service ratings, and GoElectric is a solid option for existing EDF customers who want to avoid changing supplier.

Best for: existing EDF customers.

Switching to an EV tariff is simpler than most people expect. The whole process takes under 15 minutes and the active switch usually completes within 7–14 days.

1. 01
   Check your current contract for exit fees

   Most variable-rate tariffs have no exit fees. Fixed-rate contracts sometimes do. Check before switching to avoid an unexpected charge.
2. 02
   Confirm you have a smart meter

   All EV tariffs require a smart meter. If you do not have one, ask your supplier to install one first. Installation is free and usually takes 1–2 hours.
3. 03
   Choose your tariff and apply online

   If switching to Octopus, complete the application on their website. Provide your current energy usage, postcode, and smart meter details. Octopus (and most suppliers) handle the switch automatically.
4. 04
   Set your charger to the off-peak window

   Once your tariff is live, configure your charger or car to charge within the cheap window. For Intelligent Octopus, install the Octopus app and connect your EV: it handles scheduling from there.
5. 05
   Verify your first bill

   Check your first bill to confirm the overnight rate is being applied correctly. If anything looks wrong, contact your supplier directly.

If you are buying a new charger and have not yet sorted your tariff, do both together. The charger choice can influence which tariff works best:

• Ohme Home Pro: integrates with Intelligent Octopus natively and many other tariffs. Best choice if you want automatic tariff optimisation.
• Zappi: best if you have solar panels. Set to Eco mode during the day for solar divert, and scheduled overnight charging for the cheap tariff window.
• Pod Point Solo 3: reliable and straightforward. Use the app or car scheduling to run within the cheap window.

See our guide to the best home EV chargers for a full breakdown of which charger suits which situation, or our home EV charger cost guide to understand the total installation cost.