Shell Energy EV tariff: overnight home charging explained.

Shell Energy is the domestic electricity and gas arm of Shell in the UK. Alongside its standard household tariffs, Shell Energy has offered EV-specific products that give drivers a lower unit rate during off-peak overnight hours, typically midnight to 5am or a similar window.

The idea is straightforward: you pay less for electricity during hours when grid demand is low, and you schedule your home charger to run during that window. The saving per kilowatt-hour adds up quickly when you are charging a 50–80kWh battery multiple times a week.

Shell Energy is worth considering if you already use the Shell Recharge public charging network, or if you want a single energy brand covering both your home charging rate and your public charging card. For drivers who just want the lowest possible overnight rate, the Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go tariffs are the market benchmark.

Shell Energy EV tariffs provide a reduced unit rate during off-peak overnight hours. The exact rate varies and Shell Energy updates its pricing in line with energy market conditions, so the specific figure at the time you apply may differ from any published comparison.

The off-peak window is typically overnight, most commonly midnight to 5am or midnight to 7am depending on the tariff product. Outside the off-peak window, you pay the standard day rate for all electricity use in your home.

To illustrate the saving: at the standard Ofgem cap rate of around 24.5p/kWh, adding 30kWh to your car (roughly 100 miles of range in a typical EV) costs around £7.35. At an off-peak rate of 10p/kWh, the same charge costs £3.00. Over a year of regular overnight charging, that difference compounds into a meaningful annual saving.

Run the calculation on your own mileage and battery size to work out what an EV tariff would save you specifically. For most drivers doing over 8,000 miles per year, the saving justifies switching.

All dedicated EV electricity tariffs, including Shell Energy's, require a smart meter. The smart meter lets your supplier verify exactly when you are drawing electricity, so the overnight rate can be applied correctly and your bill reflects the right amount for each time period.

If you do not have a smart meter, Shell Energy will arrange a free installation before moving you onto the EV tariff. The installation itself takes around 1–2 hours and is carried out by an approved engineer. You do not pay for the smart meter or the fitting.

Shell Recharge is Shell's UK public charging network, operating rapid and ultra-rapid chargers at Shell forecourts and partner locations. It is a separate business from Shell Energy domestic supply, but some Shell Energy tariff products have offered combined home and away benefits.

For drivers who regularly use Shell Recharge for motorway or destination charging, having a Shell Energy home tariff alongside a Shell Recharge account can simplify billing and give a consistent experience across both. Shell Recharge charges at a pay-as-you-go rate unless you hold a membership card, in which case a lower per-kWh rate typically applies.

Check the current Shell Recharge pricing and Shell Energy tariff terms together when making your decision: the combined value depends on how often you use each.

1. 01
   Check your current contract for exit fees

   Most variable-rate household energy tariffs carry no exit fee. Fixed-rate contracts sometimes do. Check before switching to avoid an unexpected charge on your final bill.
2. 02
   Confirm you have a smart meter

   If you already have a smart meter, the switch can proceed once your application is approved. If not, Shell Energy will arrange a free installation before activating the EV rate.
3. 03
   Apply via the Shell Energy website

   Complete the sign-up form on Shell Energy's website. You will need your current energy usage figures, postcode, and smart meter serial number if applicable. The switch normally completes within 7–14 days.
4. 04
   Set your charger to the off-peak window

   Once your EV tariff is active, configure your charger or car to begin charging at the start of the off-peak window. Most smart chargers have a scheduling feature in their app. Some vehicles let you set a departure time and handle scheduling from the car itself.
5. 05
   Check your first bill

   Review your first bill to confirm the overnight rate has been applied correctly to your EV charging sessions. If the rate looks wrong, contact Shell Energy customer service with your smart meter readings.

Your home EV charger works independently of your electricity supplier. Switching to a Shell Energy EV tariff does not require you to change your charger, and changing supplier in future will not affect your charger hardware or its warranty.

The only requirement is that your charger supports scheduled charging, which all UK home chargers installed since June 2022 do by law. If your charger was fitted before that date, check whether it has a scheduling function in its app. Most chargers from brands such as Pod Point, Ohme, Zappi, and Hypervolt do.

If you are installing a new charger at the same time as switching tariff, an Ohme Home Pro is worth considering: it integrates with energy tariff APIs and can optimise charging automatically within your off-peak window without manual scheduling.

For a full breakdown of charger options, see our guide to the best home EV chargers. For installation costs, see our home EV charger cost guide.