Best EV Tariffs UK 2025: Cheapest Rates for Home Charging
Charging an EV at the standard 24.5p/kWh rate costs roughly the same as petrol. Switch to the right EV tariff and drop to 7p/kWh overnight — saving £400+ per year. Here's exactly which tariff to choose.
Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills — and realising there were no simple, jargon-free tools to help ordinary homeowners understand their energy costs. He researches electricity rates, EV charging, solar payback, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
⚡ Key takeaways
- ✓Dedicated EV tariffs offer 7–10p/kWh overnight — vs 24.5p on standard rates.
- ✓Annual saving vs standard tariff: typically £350–£500 for 7,000–10,000 miles/year.
- ✓You need a smart meter — all EV tariffs require half-hourly readings.
- ✓Intelligent Octopus is the best option if you have a compatible smart charger.
Best EV Tariffs Compared (2025)
| Tariff | Supplier | Cheap rate | Hours | Smart charger needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Octopus ⭐ | Octopus Energy | ~7–9p/kWh | Flexible (auto-scheduled) | Yes (compatible EV/charger) |
| Octopus Go | Octopus Energy | ~7–8p/kWh | 00:30–04:30 (4 hrs) | No (manual schedule) |
| OVO Drive | OVO Energy | ~9p/kWh | 00:00–07:00 (7 hrs) | No |
| British Gas Electric Driver | British Gas | ~10p/kWh | 00:00–05:00 (5 hrs) | No |
| EDF GoElectric | EDF | ~9–11p/kWh | 00:00–07:00 (7 hrs) | No |
Rates are indicative as of Q1 2026 and vary by region. Always confirm current rates directly with the supplier before switching. Daytime rates are typically 28–32p/kWh on these tariffs.
Annual Saving: EV Tariff vs Standard Rate
Assumes 7,000 miles/year, 3.5 mi/kWh efficiency = 2,000 kWh charging/year. Octopus Go at 7p vs standard 24.5p.
For higher mileage drivers (12,000–15,000 miles), the saving grows to £600–£750 per year — and further still if any miles are covered using your own solar generation (effectively free).
Why Intelligent Octopus is the Best Option
Unlike standard EV tariffs with a fixed cheap window, Intelligent Octopus integrates directly with compatible EVs and chargers (Tesla, Volkswagen Group, Ohme, Indra, Pod Point, and others). It automatically schedules your EV to charge during the cheapest grid periods — which can include times well outside the standard overnight window when renewable generation is high and grid prices are negative or very low.
✅ Pros
- Fully automatic — just plug in
- Can access rates well below 7p during cheap grid periods
- No manual scheduling needed
- Compatible with many EVs and chargers
⚠️ Requirements
- Compatible EV or smart charger required
- Smart meter required
- Must be an Octopus customer
- Only available in Great Britain
Combine Solar Charging for Maximum Savings
If you have solar panels, combining them with an EV tariff stacks savings even further. During the day, charge from your own solar (effectively free electricity). Overnight, top up on the cheap tariff rate. This combination — solar daytime charging + overnight cheap tariff — is the cheapest possible way to power an EV in the UK.
A household with 4kWp solar and Octopus Go, driving 10,000 miles/year, can realistically cover 30–40% of miles from free solar and 60–70% at 7p/kWh — cutting annual charging costs to £80–£130. Use our EV + Solar Savings Calculator to model your exact figures.
See your current charging costs vs what you'd pay on an EV tariff — and how solar panels reduce your cost to near zero.