What is the best EV tariff in the UK?
Your charger decides which smart tariffs you can actually use. Three answers, one straight pick, checked July 2026.
You have no charger yet, so nothing limits your choice. We install tariff ready chargers with native Intelligent Octopus Go support, confirmed at survey.
Your charger decides your tariff.
The gap between the cheapest and dearest way to charge at home is around £400 a year for a typical driver, and the tariff sets almost all of it. The finder above turns your charger, solar setup and mileage into one straight pick, with the annual cost of the runners up alongside it.
The rest of this page shows the working. First, which chargers work with which smart tariffs, the part most comparison sites skip. Then every major EV tariff with its overnight rate and window. Last, the two things you need in place before you can switch.
Which chargers work with which smart tariffs?
Timer based tariffs such as Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric and SO Energy EV work with any charger. The smart dispatch tariffs are pickier. The matrix below shows where each major home charger stands, checked July 2026.
| Charger | Intelligent Octopus Go | OVO Charge Anytime | Timer tariffs (Go, EDF, E.ON, SP, SO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohme Home Pro | Yes, native | No | Yes |
| Ohme ePod | Yes, native | No | Yes |
| MyEnergi Zappi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hypervolt Home 3 Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Indra Smart Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Andersen A3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pod Point Solo 3S | Yes | No | Yes |
| Easee One | Partial, linked device | No | Yes |
| Wallbox Pulsar Plus | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tesla Wall Connector | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hive EV Charger | No | No | Yes, plus BG EV Power+ smart scheduling |
| Basic or timer charger | No | No | Yes |
The Easee One appears on the Octopus compatible list as a linked device: overnight smart charging works, but the integration runs through the Easee cloud rather than a native API, and the charger app schedule is disabled while it is active. For the deepest Intelligent Octopus Go integration, the Ohme Home Pro is the benchmark. We confirm tariff compatibility as part of every home charger survey.
Every major EV tariff at a glance.
Overnight rates are 6.5p to 14p per kWh against the 26.11p standard variable rate. Smart dispatch tariffs schedule your charging automatically; timer based tariffs need the charger or car to hit the window.
| Tariff | Supplier | Off peak rate Off peak rate The cheap overnight electricity price you pay while charging in the tariff window. Daytime use stays close to the standard rate. | Off peak window Off peak window The hours when the cheap rate applies. Charging scheduled inside this window gets the low price. | Smart dispatch Smart dispatch Smart dispatch tariffs schedule the charging for you automatically. Timer based tariffs need your charger or car set to start inside the window. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO Energy EV | SO Energy | ~6.5p/kWh | 00:00 to 05:00 | Timer based |
| EDF GoElectric | EDF | 6.99p/kWh | 23:00 to 06:00 | Timer based |
| Octopus Flux | Octopus | ~7p/kWh | 02:00 to 05:00 | Yes, needs solar and battery |
| ScottishPower EV Saver | ScottishPower | ~7.2p/kWh | 00:00 to 05:00 | Timer based |
| British Gas EV Power+ | British Gas | ~7.9p/kWh | 00:00 to 05:00 | Via Hive app, Hive charger only |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | Octopus | ~8p/kWh | 23:30 to 05:30 plus smart slots | Yes, automated |
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | E.ON | ~8p/kWh | 00:00 to 06:00 | Yes, any charger |
| E.ON Next Drive | E.ON | ~9p/kWh | 00:00 to 06:00 | Timer based |
| British Gas EV Power | British Gas | ~9p/kWh | 00:00 to 05:00 | Timer based |
| Octopus Go | Octopus | ~9.5p/kWh | 00:30 to 05:30 | Timer based |
| OVO Charge Anytime | OVO | 14p/kWh | Any time, smart scheduled | Yes, compatible chargers only |
Rates are typical July 2026 figures and move with the market, so confirm with the supplier before switching. Wondering what these rates mean for your annual bill? The EV charging cost calculator compares home, public and petrol costs at your mileage.
What every EV tariff needs.
Every smart EV tariff needs a SMETS2 smart meter with half hourly readings, fitted free by any supplier on request. Most tariffs also need payment by Direct Debit, and some ask for proof that you own an EV or plug in hybrid. The new supplier handles the whole switch, which typically takes five working days.
One quirk worth knowing: UK smart charge point regulations add a randomised delay of up to ten minutes at the start of an off peak window, so a charge that starts a few minutes late is normal, not a fault. If you want the numbers behind home charging, our cost calculator compares tariffs against public charging and petrol at your mileage.
Your tariff questions, answered. The questions UK drivers ask about EV tariffs, smart meters and charger compatibility.
Do you need a smart meter for an EV tariff?
Yes, every dedicated EV tariff needs a SMETS2 smart meter so the supplier can bill your overnight window separately. Most suppliers fit one free when you switch.
Which EV chargers work with OVO Charge Anytime?
OVO smart schedules through a compatible charger or car. Zappi, Hypervolt, Indra and Andersen qualify; Ohme and Easee do not. We keep a current compatibility list.
How much does charging at home cost?
On a dedicated EV tariff, about 8p per kWh overnight, near 2.3p a mile for a typical car. The tariff you pick matters more than the charger you buy.
How much does EV charger installation cost?
A standard 7kW home installation costs £962 to £1,250 including the charger. We price the full job online in about two minutes with the instant quote tool.
Every answer written and reviewed by the team that handles your install. Updated as regulations, pricing and tariffs change.
View all home charging FAQs The right tariff is one
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