British Gas EV tariff 2026: off-peak rates and smart charging explained.

The British Gas EV tariff is a dedicated electricity tariff designed for electric vehicle drivers who charge at home. It works by offering a significantly cheaper unit rate during an overnight off-peak window, typically starting from 7.9p/kWh, compared to the standard rate of around 24.5p/kWh during the day.

British Gas is the UK's largest domestic energy supplier, which matters for two reasons. First, switching to their EV tariff is straightforward if you are already a British Gas customer: you do not need to change supplier, transfer direct debits, or set up a new account. Second, they have a large customer service operation and an established smart meter rollout, which makes the technical setup process generally reliable.

The savings are substantial. A driver covering 15,000 miles per year in a typical EV uses roughly 4,286 kWh for home charging. At the standard rate of 24.5p/kWh, that costs approximately £1,050 per year. At 7.9p/kWh on the British Gas EV tariff, the same mileage costs around £339. That is a saving of over £700 per year from switching tariff alone, without changing your charger or your driving habits.

The British Gas EV tariff applies a lower unit rate during a set overnight off-peak window. Outside this window, you pay the standard day rate, which is broadly in line with the Ofgem price cap.

The off-peak window gives you enough time to charge most EVs fully overnight. At a standard 7kW home charger, a 5-hour window at 7.9p/kWh delivers up to 35kWh of charge, which is enough to add around 120 miles of range. For most drivers, plugging in before midnight means a full battery by morning.

If you use a lot of electricity during the day, consider whether a higher day rate on an EV tariff affects your overall bill. For most households that work away from home and charge the car overnight, the saving on EV charging outweighs any increase in daytime usage costs.

A smart meter is required to use the British Gas EV tariff. The meter sends half-hourly usage readings to British Gas automatically, which is how they verify when you are charging and apply the correct rate. Without a smart meter, the tariff cannot distinguish between off-peak and peak usage.

If you do not already have a smart meter, British Gas will arrange a free installation. The process involves a visit from a British Gas engineer, usually taking one to two hours. Your electricity supply will not be interrupted for more than a few minutes during the installation.

Once your smart meter is installed and communicating correctly, you can be switched to the EV tariff. The whole process from application to active tariff typically takes around two to four weeks.

British Gas owns Hive, one of the UK's most widely used smart home platforms. If you already have Hive devices in your home, the EV tariff integrates naturally with the ecosystem you already use.

Hive-compatible EV chargers can be scheduled through the Hive app to automatically start charging within the off-peak window. Rather than setting a schedule on the charger itself, you manage everything through the same app you use for your thermostat and other Hive devices. The app can also show your charging usage and estimated cost per session.

If you do not have a Hive charger, the tariff still works with any smart EV charger that supports scheduled charging. The Hive integration is a convenience benefit for existing Hive users, not a requirement.

For drivers who want deeper integration, the combination of a British Gas EV tariff, a Hive charger, and the Hive app gives you a single interface for home energy management and EV charging in one place. This is a genuine advantage for households already invested in the Hive ecosystem.

Signing up takes around 10 to 15 minutes if you are already a British Gas customer. New customers will need to provide a few additional details. The steps are straightforward.

1. 01
   Check your current contract for exit fees

   If you are on a fixed-rate tariff with another supplier, check whether exit fees apply before switching. Variable-rate tariffs typically have no exit fees.
2. 02
   Confirm you have a smart meter

   Log in to your British Gas account or contact them to check your meter type. If you need a smart meter, request a free installation at this stage.
3. 03
   Apply for the EV tariff online

   Visit the British Gas website and select the EV tariff. Existing customers can switch from within their online account. New customers complete a standard switch application.
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 off-peak hours. If you have a Hive charger, do this through the Hive app.
5. 05
   Check your first bill

   Review your first bill to confirm the off-peak rate is being applied correctly to your overnight charging. If anything looks wrong, contact British Gas directly.

The British Gas EV tariff works with any smart EV charger. Since June 2022, all new home EV chargers sold in the UK must be smart chargers by law, so if your charger was installed recently it will already support scheduled charging.

To benefit from the off-peak rate, you need to schedule your charger to run within the cheap window. Most chargers let you do this through their own app or directly on the unit. If you are using your car's built-in scheduling, set a departure time and let the car work backwards to charge within the cheapest period.

If you are buying a new charger and want maximum integration with the British Gas tariff and Hive, the Hive EV Charger is the obvious choice. For drivers who want flexibility regardless of supplier, the Ohme Home Pro and Pod Point Solo 3 are both solid options that work with any tariff.

If you do not yet have a home charger, see our guide to the best home EV chargers and our home EV charger cost guide. For a broader comparison of EV tariffs, our best EV tariff guide covers all the main options side by side.