Quick answer: On 19 October 2026, the lowest off-peak EV rates published by major UK suppliers ranged from 6.6p per kWh (Octopus EV Saver, for Octopus EV customers only) and 6.66p (EDF GoElectric) to 9.5p (British Gas EV Power and E.ON Next Drive). The cheapest for you depends on your car, charger, how much electricity you use at other times and your day rate, which suppliers quote by postcode.
This page lists facts from suppliers’ own websites. We have not tested these tariffs, and the order of the table is not a ranking. Our affiliate disclosure explains how we make money. Rates change often: check the supplier’s page before you switch.
Off-peak rates compared
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Off-peak hours | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Intelligent Octopus Go | 7.6p | 6 hours of smart charging, plus 23:30 to 05:30 for the home | Compatible car or charger; smart meter; fixed rates only; £50 exit fee |
| Octopus EV Saver | 6.6p | 6 hours of scheduled charging a day | Octopus EV customers on Intelligent Octopus Go; smart meter; compatible car or charger |
| Octopus Go | Quoted by postcode | 00:30 to 05:30 | Any EV and charger; smart meter; fixed rates only; £50 exit fee |
| EDF GoElectric | 6.66p | 11pm to 6am | Smart meter; prices fixed for the tariff |
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | 8p | Smart charging (42 off-peak hours a week) | Compatible EV and charger; fixed for 12 months; no exit fees |
| E.ON Next Drive | 9.5p | 12am to 6am | Half-hourly smart meter; fixed for one year; no exit fees |
| British Gas EV Power | 9.5p | Midnight to 5am, on all home usage | Smart meter; fixed for a year |
| ScottishPower EV Optimise | 8p | Scheduled smart charging, not 4pm to 8pm | Add-on to most ScottishPower tariffs; home charger; compatible EV; communicating smart meter; paid as a bill credit |
| ScottishPower EV Saver | 8.5p | Midnight to 5am GMT (1am to 6am during British Summer Time) | Single-rate smart meter; monthly Direct Debit; home charger |
| OVO Charge Anytime | 13.33p (pay as you go) | Smart charging | Compatible EV or charger; smart meter; OVO account |
Rates are per kWh and were checked on each supplier’s website on 19 October 2026. E.ON Next says its information was correct on 15 October 2026. OVO says its pay as you go rate is your home electricity rate discounted to 13.33p for smart charging, and it also sells monthly plans.
Extras some suppliers offer
- EDF offers a Smart Charging bolt-on, which it says pays £60 a year for plugging in.
- British Gas says combining EV Power with its Hive Power+ service, which needs a Hive-compatible charger, gives an equivalent rate of 7.125p per kWh for home charging.
- Octopus says customers on its fixed Intelligent Octopus Go tariff typically saved £771 from May 2025 to April 2026 compared with its standard variable tariff.
These are the suppliers’ own claims.
What a tariff costs over a year
Using Octopus Energy’s UK average of 0.301kWh a mile, 7,000 miles uses about 2,107kWh. Our sums, before charging losses:
| Off-peak rate | 7,000 miles a year |
|---|---|
| 6.66p | £140 |
| 7.6p | £160 |
| 8p | £169 |
| 9.5p | £200 |
| 26.32p (price cap rate, for comparison) | £555 |
Octopus also says 7,000 miles costs about £160 on Intelligent Octopus Go. Use our charging cost calculator with your own figures, and see what home charging costs.
How to choose
- Check your car and charger. Smart tariffs, such as Intelligent Octopus Go, E.ON Next Drive Smart and ScottishPower EV Optimise, only work with compatible equipment. Fixed-window tariffs, such as Octopus Go and E.ON Next Drive, work with any EV.
- Look at the day rate. On most of these tariffs, the rest of your home’s electricity outside the off-peak window costs more. Suppliers give the day rate when you get a quote.
- Think about your other usage. British Gas EV Power applies its rate to all home usage from midnight to 5am. ScottishPower says EV Saver may not suit you if less than 35% of your electricity is used off-peak.
- Check exit fees and fixed terms. Octopus charges £50 to leave its Go tariffs early. E.ON Next says it has no exit fees on Next Drive.
- Get a smart meter. Every tariff here needs one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a home charger for an EV tariff?
Some tariffs need one; others work with a compatible car. See do I need a home charger and installation costs.
Are EV tariffs covered by the price cap?
Fixed tariffs are not covered by the Ofgem price cap. Octopus, EDF, British Gas and E.ON Next all describe the tariffs listed here as fixed. See our price cap guide for EV drivers.
How often is this page updated?
We review it every month. The date at the bottom shows when we last checked the rates.
Related guides and tools
- Hubs: all our electric car guides and charging guides.
- Tools: the charging cost calculator, EV vs petrol cost comparison, eVED calculator and grant checker.
- Also read: Do I need a home charger for an electric car? and Can I charge an electric car without a driveway? All the options.
Sources
- Supplier websites linked in the table, checked 19 October 2026
- Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, Ofgem
Last checked: 19 October 2026
Image credit: National Institute of Standards and Technology via Wikimedia Commons, public domain, cropped.
