If you charge your electric vehicle (EV) at home, a smart energy tariff could help you save hundreds on electricity costs every year. Smart EV tariffs use variable pricing throughout the day to give you cheaper electricity at off‑peak times, especially overnight when demand is low and energy is cheaper. This makes them ideal for EV owners looking to cut charging costs without changing driving habits.
What Is a Smart EV Tariff?
A smart EV tariff is a home energy plan that offers lower electricity prices at specific times of the day or based on real‑time wholesale rates. These tariffs work with your smart meter and often a smart home EV charger to automatically charge your vehicle when prices are lowest, reducing the overall cost of running your EV.
Rather than paying the same unit rate every hour, smart tariffs give discounted electricity during off‑peak hours — typically overnight — and sometimes at other times when demand is low. This lets you charge your EV more cheaply than standard energy plans, turning your home into an efficient charging hub.
Why Smart EV Tariffs Are Worth It
Here’s why many EV owners are switching to smart tariffs:
1. Lower Charging Costs
Smart EV tariffs can significantly reduce what you pay per kWh when charging your car compared with a standard electricity plan. Some tariffs offer rates as low as around 7p per kWh overnight, depending on the provider.
2. Automatic Savings
With compatible smart chargers and smart meters, the tariff can automatically schedule charging during the cheapest hours — so you don’t have to manually plan or think about it.
3. Better Value Than Traditional Plans
Because EV charging is highly time‑sensitive (lots of electricity used in a short window), shifting to cheaper periods can cut hundreds off your annual energy bill vs a standard tariff.
4. Works With Modern Chargers
Many of the best home EV chargers include smart features or integrate with apps that allow you to schedule charging based on tariff pricing — making the whole process seamless.
Top Smart EV Tariffs in the UK
Here’s a quick comparison of the most searched‑for smart EV tariffs that drivers consider when charging at home:
Octopus Intelligent Go
One of the UK’s most popular smart EV tariffs due to its long off‑peak window and low rates. It typically offers ultra‑competitive electricity prices (around 7p per kWh) during a defined overnight period (e.g., 11:30 pm–5:30 am). The tariff automatically schedules charging for you if you have a compatible EV or smart charger, maximising savings without fuss.
Key points:
-
Long off‑peak window each night
-
Very cheap unit rate when charging during off‑peak
-
Automatic smart charging if compatible setup
-
Popular with Tesla and smart charger users
OVO Charge Anytime
OVO’s tariff takes a slightly different approach. Rather than fixed overnight hours, it uses dynamic pricing to find the cheapest electricity periods day or night and charges your EV accordingly. The tariff was originally known for ~7p per kWh but recent pricing changes mean the rate is now around 14p per kWh unless bundled within a monthly plan.
Key points:
-
Flexible charging any time electricity prices are lowest
-
Requires a smart meter and compatible charger
-
Offers flexibility but isn’t always the lowest rate
-
Sometimes bundled with monthly plans including other perks
Which Tariff Is Best for You?
Choose Octopus Intelligent Go if you want:
-
The lowest overnight charging rate available
-
Predictable cheap hours every night
-
Automatic scheduling with minimal setup
Choose OVO Charge Anytime if you prefer:
-
Flexible time‑of‑use savings rather than fixed windows
-
Charging whenever prices are cheapest each day
-
Bundled plans that might include other benefits
Both require a smart meter to work properly and tend to deliver the best results when paired with a smart home EV charger that can schedule charging for you.
Final Thoughts
Smart EV tariffs are one of the most effective ways UK EV owners reduce the cost of charging at home. By shifting your charging to cheaper times — and leveraging smart tech — you can significantly cut your electricity spend while making your EV charging smarter and cleaner.