Best EV home charger tariffs UK (July 2026)
Charging your electric car at home on a smart off-peak EV tariff costs a fraction of public charging — and with the Ofgem price cap rose to £1,862/yr on 1 July 2026, a cheap overnight rate matters more than ever. Compare the best UK EV home charging tariffs — Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric and E.ON Next Drive — and lock in low overnight charging.
- Smart off-peak EV charging from around 7p/kWh
- Roughly a third of the 26.11p capped electricity rate from 1 July
- Whole-of-market EV tariff comparison
- Beat the 1 July 2026 price-cap rise
The best EV home charger tariffs, in short
Quick answer: The cheapest EV home charging tariffs in 2026 give a smart off-peak rate of around 7p/kWh — Intelligent Octopus Go (smart, extended overnight window) and E.ON Next Drive (about 6.7p/kWh headline) are among the lowest, with Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric and OVO Charge Anytime also widely used. At roughly 7p/kWh you pay about one third of the 26.11p capped daytime rate that applies from 1 July 2026.
A full charge of a typical 60kWh EV costs about £4 overnight — versus roughly £16 at the capped day rate, and far less than public rapid charging at 60–80p/kWh. The right tariff depends on your car, charger, mileage and whether you have solar or a home battery.
We compare the whole market so you can match the cheapest off-peak window to how you actually drive. Enter your postcode to see the EV tariffs available at your address now the 1 July cap rise has landed.
Best EV home charging tariffs compared (July 2026)
| EV tariff | Off-peak rate | Cheap window | Smart control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Octopus Go | ~7p/kWh | 6-hour overnight, smart-extended | Yes | Most drivers with a compatible car or charger |
| Octopus Go | Low overnight off-peak rate | Fixed overnight window | Timer | Drivers wanting a simple fixed cheap window |
| EDF GoElectric | Overnight off-peak rate | Overnight window (timer) | Timer | EDF customers and overnight chargers |
| E.ON Next Drive | ~6.7p/kWh | Overnight window | Timer/smart | Drivers wanting a low headline overnight rate |
| OVO Charge Anytime | Smart off-peak add-on | Anytime smart charging | Yes | OVO customers wanting flexible smart charging |
| British Gas Electric Driver | Overnight off-peak rate | Overnight window | Timer | British Gas dual-fuel customers |
Rates and availability vary by region and change over time. Figures reflect publicly published tariffs as of July 2026 — always confirm the live rate before switching. Off-peak EV rates around 7p/kWh are illustrative of the best 2026 deals; we do not publish a guaranteed rate. For Octopus EV options in depth, see our Octopus EV tariff guide; if you have solar, compare the best SEG export rates too.
Cheap overnight EV rates vs the 26.11p capped rate
From 1 July 2026 the Ofgem-capped Standard Variable electricity rate is 26.11p/kWh (plus a 57.19p/day standing charge). A smart EV tariff at around 7p/kWh charges your car for roughly a third of that. Here is what a full charge of a typical 60kWh EV costs at each rate:
| Charging method | Unit rate | Full 60kWh charge | Cost per mile (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart off-peak EV tariff | ~7p/kWh | about £4.20 | around 2p |
| Capped Standard Variable (from 1 July 2026) | 26.11p/kWh | about £15.67 | around 7p |
| Public rapid charging | 60–80p/kWh | about £36–£48 | around 16–21p |
Charging on a 7p smart rate instead of the 26.11p capped rate saves roughly £11 per full charge. A driver doing 8,000–10,000 miles a year can save several hundred pounds a year versus charging at the capped day rate — and far more versus relying on public chargers. Per-mile costs assume about 3.5 miles per kWh and are illustrative.
Who benefits most from an EV tariff?
Home chargers
If you can charge overnight off a home wallbox, a smart off-peak rate around 7p/kWh makes home charging up to 10x cheaper than public rapid chargers.
Higher-mileage drivers
The more you charge, the more the gap between 7p and the 26.11p capped rate adds up. Regular commuters see the biggest annual saving after the July cap rise.
Solar and battery owners
Some EV tariffs optimise charging around solar generation and home battery storage, so you can soak up cheap units and stored energy together.
An EV tariff is less worthwhile if you cannot charge at home, do very low mileage, or charge mainly during the day. Because most EV tariffs put the day rate slightly above a standard tariff, the overnight saving needs to outweigh higher daytime use — smart scheduling makes that easy for most drivers.
Smart charger and EV tariff requirements
Most EV tariffs share the same basic requirements. Here is what you need and what to look for:
| Requirement | What you need | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Smart meter | A working SMETS2 (or compatible) smart meter | Required for any EV tariff so the supplier can bill the off-peak window |
| Eligible EV or charger | A compatible car or smart charge point for fully smart tariffs | Lets tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime schedule charging automatically |
| Off-peak window | A cheap window that fits when you charge | The low rate only helps if your car charges during it — smart tariffs extend it automatically |
| Sensible day rate | Reasonable peak pricing for the rest of the home | You still pay the day rate for everything else, so it should not be far above the cap |
Timer-based tariffs such as EDF GoElectric and Octopus Go work with any car if you set the charge to start in the cheap window. Fully smart tariffs need a supported car or charger but remove the need to set timers yourself.
How to switch to an EV tariff
- Check you have a smart meter. If not, ask your supplier to fit one first — it is free and required for every EV tariff.
- Confirm your car or charger is supported if you want a fully smart tariff like Intelligent Octopus Go or OVO Charge Anytime. Timer tariffs work with any setup.
- Compare the off-peak rate and window against your driving pattern, and check the day rate is not far above the 26.11p cap.
- Take a meter reading on 30 June so the cheaper cap covers your usage up to that date, just before the 1 July rise took effect.
- Enter your postcode in the form on this page to see the EV tariffs available at your address, then apply — switching usually completes within a few weeks with no loss of supply.
Frequently asked questions
The leading EV tariffs offer a smart off-peak rate around 7p/kWh — Intelligent Octopus Go (about 7p in a smart, extended overnight window) and E.ON Next Drive (about 6.7p) are among the cheapest, alongside Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric and OVO Charge Anytime. The best one depends on your car, charger, mileage and whether you have solar or a battery.
From 1 July 2026 the capped Standard Variable electricity rate is 26.11p/kWh. A smart EV tariff at around 7p/kWh is roughly a third of that, so a full 60kWh charge costs about £4 overnight instead of about £16 at the capped day rate — a saving of roughly £11 per charge.
The main home EV charging tariffs in 2026 are Intelligent Octopus Go and Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric, E.ON Next Drive, OVO Charge Anytime and British Gas Electric Driver. Most apply a cheap overnight or smart-scheduled off-peak rate and need a smart meter.
You need a smart meter for any EV tariff. Fully smart tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime work best with a compatible car or smart charger so charging can be scheduled automatically; timer tariffs like EDF GoElectric and Octopus Go use a fixed overnight window instead.
The cap rise lifts the Standard Variable rate to 26.11p/kWh from 1 July 2026. Dedicated EV tariffs give a cheap fixed off-peak rate for charging, which is protected from the rise, so they become even better value compared with charging at the capped day rate. Only Standard Variable tariffs rise; fixed and EV deals are unaffected until they end.
Make sure you have a smart meter, check your car or charger is supported if you want a fully smart tariff, then compare the off-peak rate and window against how you drive. Enter your postcode in the form on this page to see the EV tariffs available at your address and apply — switching usually completes within a few weeks.
No one can promise that. The next Ofgem review is on 1 October 2026, and Cornwall Insight currently forecasts the cap at around £1,899/yr for that quarter (a current-TDCV forecast, not confirmed). A dedicated EV tariff locks in a cheap overnight rate regardless, so your charging cost is shielded from cap movements.
Need a home EV charger installed?
A home wallbox unlocks the cheap overnight rates above. Get free quotes from vetted local EV charge-point installers and start charging on a smart off-peak tariff.
Written by: EnergyPlus Editorial Team. Last reviewed: July 2026. Rates verified: July 2026.
Methodology: capped rates are Ofgem’s default tariff cap for 1 July–30 September 2026 (electricity 26.11p/kWh + 57.19p/day; typical dual-fuel £1,862/yr), confirmed on 27 May 2026. EV off-peak rates are illustrative of the best publicly published 2026 deals and vary by region, supplier and usage; charge costs assume a 60kWh battery and about 3.5 miles per kWh. Always confirm the live rate before switching.
Compare the best EV charging tariffs
Find the cheapest smart off-peak EV home charging tariff for your car and setup now the 1 July 2026 cap rise has landed.
No obligation.Reviewed by the BestBuilders editorial team on July 2026.
Back to EV Charger