Cheapest off-peak EV charging tariff rates in the UK — ranked for July 2026
Quick answer: the cheapest off-peak EV charging rates in July 2026 are E.ON Next Drive at around 6.7p/kWh, Intelligent Octopus Go at 7p/kWh (23:30–05:30), OVO Charge Anytime at around 7p/kWh for anytime EV charging, and British Gas Electric Driver at around 8.95p/kWh. At 7p that's roughly 2p per mile to charge at home — about a quarter of the capped standard rate. Compare whole-of-market and lock in a low rate now the 1 July 2026 cap rise has landed.
- Ranked cheapest off-peak EV rates, verified July 2026
- Charging windows, eligibility and smart-meter requirements explained
- Worked cost-per-mile and annual-saving example vs the standard rate
- Quick form — we'll match you to suitable home EV tariffs by postcode
Whole-of-market comparison for UK homes. Rates verified July 2026; availability, eligibility and your meter/charger setup apply. Always check unit rates, standing charges and off-peak windows.
Find the cheapest off-peak EV tariff for your home
Off-peak EV tariffs (also called EV night tariffs or smart EV tariffs) give a much cheaper unit rate during set hours — typically overnight — to cut the cost of charging at home. In July 2026 the headline cheap rates sit around 6.7p–9p/kWh, against a capped standard rate near 27–28p/kWh. The cheapest option for you isn't always the one with the lowest night rate: day rates, standing charges and the exact off-peak window matter just as much.
EnergyPlus helps you compare whole-of-market options for UK households and understand which tariffs suit your setup. With Ofgem's price cap having risen +13% to £1,862/yr from 1 July 2026, the gap between standard and off-peak EV rates is widening — so a dedicated EV tariff saves even more. Use the form to start your comparison; we'll match you to tariffs by postcode and details.
What you'll need to compare accurately
- Your postcode (unit rates and standing charges vary by region)
- Whether you have a smart meter (required for nearly all EV tariffs)
- Your typical charging pattern (overnight vs anytime / daytime top-ups)
- Any requirements from your charger/app (some tariffs are supplier-managed)
Get your off-peak EV tariff comparison
Fill in the form and we'll help you compare suitable home tariffs.
Tip: If you often charge during the day (e.g. home working with midday top-ups), an anytime tariff like OVO Charge Anytime (~7p) can beat a fixed overnight window. Compare the full tariff, not just the headline overnight price.
Cheapest off-peak EV charging tariffs ranked (UK, July 2026)
The table below ranks the leading UK EV tariffs by their off-peak charging rate as of July 2026. Rates are indicative and vary by region and meter type — always confirm the live price for your postcode. For context, the capped standard variable rate is near 27–28p/kWh, rising further when the price cap rose to £1,862/yr on 1 July 2026.
Indicative rates as of July 2026; not a full-of-market price list. Octopus Cosy (13p/kWh in three daily slots) is an alternative for heat-pump homes rather than pure EV charging. Confirm live prices, windows and eligibility before switching. See our best EV tariff guide or compare time-of-use tariffs.
Why off-peak EV tariffs are the cheapest way to charge at home in 2026
Night rates near 7p/kWh
EV-focused tariffs reward overnight charging with rates around 6.7–9p/kWh — roughly a quarter of the capped standard rate near 27–28p/kWh.
About 2p per mile
At 7p/kWh and ~3.5 miles per kWh, home charging costs roughly 2p per mile — versus about 8p on the standard cap and 15–20p+ on public rapid chargers.
Better fit for smart charging
Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime manage charging automatically, so you get the cheap rate without setting timers yourself.
Whole-home off-peak savings
Fixed-window tariffs (E.ON Next Drive, Intelligent Octopus Go) also cut the cost of overnight appliances and heat pumps, not just the car.
Bigger savings after 1 July 2026
As the price cap rose +13% to £1,862/yr, the gap between standard and off-peak rates widens — making a dedicated EV tariff more valuable, not less.
Choose for your usage, not the headline
Whole-of-market comparison helps you weigh the off-peak rate against the day rate and standing charge for your real household pattern.
How off-peak EV charging tariffs work — windows and eligibility
Off-peak EV tariffs split your electricity price into time bands. Fixed-window tariffs (Intelligent Octopus Go 23:30–05:30, E.ON Next Drive, British Gas Electric Driver) apply a cheap rate to all use in that window. Anytime managed tariffs (OVO Charge Anytime) apply a low rate to supplier-managed EV charging at any time of day. Nearly all require a working smart meter.
1) Check your setup
Confirm you have a smart meter and a compatible EV or smart charger. Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime need supplier-managed charging.
2) Pick a window type
Fixed overnight window (e.g. 23:30–05:30) if your car is plugged in at night, or anytime managed charging if your schedule is irregular.
3) Compare the full tariff
Weigh the off-peak rate against the day rate, the standing charge (~58–70p/day) and any contract terms.
4) Switch and schedule
Set charging to start in the off-peak window, or enable managed charging, then check the first bill shows the cheap rate.
Good to know: off-peak times and rates vary by supplier, tariff and region. Always confirm the exact hours and whether the cheap rate applies to your whole home or only to smart-managed EV charging.
Worked example: cost per mile and annual saving (July 2026)
Here's a realistic example for a typical UK EV driver covering 8,000 miles a year at an efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh (about 2,285 kWh/year of charging). Cost per mile = off-peak rate ÷ miles per kWh.
So switching from a standard capped rate to a 7p off-peak EV rate saves a typical 8,000-mile-a-year driver roughly £460 a year on home charging alone — and more for higher-mileage drivers. The saving grows after the 1 July 2026 cap rise to £1,862/yr, because the standard rate climbs while the off-peak EV rate stays low.
Quick calculation for your car
- Weekly miles ÷ miles per kWh = kWh needed per week
- kWh × off-peak rate = your off-peak charging cost
- Add any daytime top-ups at the day/peak rate
Refine it using your charger app history or your vehicle's charging screen.
When off-peak wins biggest
- You can plug in most nights or use managed charging
- Your daytime usage is modest (so a higher day rate has less impact)
- You add large overnight charges rather than many daytime top-ups
- You can shift other loads (laundry, dishwasher) into the off-peak window
Standing charge check: two tariffs with the same off-peak rate can produce different totals if one has a higher standing charge in your region (typically 58–70p/day; national typical ~63p/day, about £230/yr).
Eligibility: who can get off-peak EV charging tariffs?
Eligibility varies by supplier and tariff. Some off-peak EV tariffs are open to any household with a smart meter; others require proof of an EV, a compatible smart charger, or supplier-managed smart charging via an app.
Smart meter
A communicating smart meter is required for nearly all EV time-of-use tariffs so usage can be billed by time band.
EV or plug-in hybrid
Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime are designed for EV owners and may ask you to confirm your vehicle and charger.
Charger/app compatibility
Managed-charging tariffs rely on a compatible smart charger or vehicle integration. Check compatibility before switching.
If you're unsure whether you qualify, submit the form — we'll guide you towards tariffs that typically suit your setup.
Common mistakes when choosing the cheapest EV night tariff
Only comparing the off-peak p/kWh
A 6.7p headline can lose to a 7p tariff once a higher day rate and standing charge are included. Compare the full annual cost for your usage.
Off-peak window doesn't fit your routine
If a fixed 23:30–05:30 window is too short for your mileage, an anytime managed tariff like OVO Charge Anytime may suit you better.
Not checking charger/app requirements
Managed tariffs need compatible hardware. If you can't use the smart scheduling, you may miss the cheap EV rate entirely.
Ignoring the 1 July 2026 cap rise
With the cap rose to £1,862/yr, staying on a standard rate gets more expensive. Locking in an off-peak EV tariff now widens your saving.
FAQs: cheapest off-peak EV charging tariffs (UK, July 2026)
As of July 2026, E.ON Next Drive has the lowest headline rate at around 6.7p/kWh, with Intelligent Octopus Go at 7p/kWh (23:30–05:30) and OVO Charge Anytime at around 7p/kWh for anytime EV charging. British Gas Electric Driver sits a little higher at around 8.95p/kWh. The cheapest for you depends on mileage, region and how much usage you shift into the cheap window.
Intelligent Octopus Go charges at 7p/kWh between 23:30 and 05:30 (6 hours). E.ON Next Drive and British Gas Electric Driver offer similar fixed overnight windows. OVO Charge Anytime is different — it applies its low EV rate (~7p/kWh) at any time of day for charging managed through OVO's smart-charging system.
At a 7p off-peak rate versus a capped standard rate near 27–28p/kWh, you save roughly 20p per kWh. For a typical 8,000-mile-a-year EV (~2,285 kWh), that's about £460 a year cheaper — around 2p per mile off-peak versus about 8p at the cap.
A working smart meter is required for nearly all these tariffs so usage can be billed by time of use. Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime also need a compatible EV or smart charger so the supplier can manage the session. Always confirm compatibility before switching.
Not necessarily. The day rate, standing charge and how much usage falls outside the cheap window all matter. A 6.7p rate with a higher daytime rate can cost more than a 7p tariff if you use a lot of electricity during the day. Compare the full tariff.
Ofgem confirmed on 27 May 2026 that the cap rose about 13% to £1,862/yr for a typical dual-fuel home from 1 July 2026, lifting the capped standard electricity rate. That widens the gap versus a 7p off-peak EV rate, so a dedicated EV tariff saves even more after 1 July — many drivers switch now.
It depends. Intelligent Octopus Go and E.ON Next Drive apply the cheap overnight rate to all electricity used in that window, so you can run appliances or a heat pump cheaply overnight too. OVO Charge Anytime applies its low rate specifically to managed EV charging, leaving the rest of the home on the standard rate.
At 7p/kWh and ~3.5 miles per kWh, about 2p per mile. At 6.7p it's roughly 1.9p per mile, and at 8.95p around 2.6p per mile. By comparison, the capped standard rate works out near 8p per mile, and public rapid charging is often 15–20p+ per mile.
Check the exact off-peak hours, the off-peak and peak unit rates, the standing charge for your region (typically 58–70p/day), contract length and exit fees, smart meter and charger compatibility, and whether the cheap rate covers the whole home or only managed EV charging. Then compare the full annual cost for your mileage.
Still unsure which is cheapest for your postcode and charging pattern? Start your comparison here.
About this page · how we rank. We rank off-peak EV tariffs by their headline EV charging rate, then weigh charging window, eligibility and standing charge for a typical UK home. Rates are indicative and whole-of-market, drawn from published supplier tariffs and the Ofgem price cap. Reviewed and last updated July 2026.
What households say about comparing EV off-peak tariffs with EnergyPlus
“I was set on the lowest night rate, but the comparison showed an anytime tariff suited our irregular schedule better. Our charging costs are down to about 2p a mile.”
“The ranked table made it clear E.ON Next Drive and Octopus Go were neck and neck. The standing-charge tip saved me picking the wrong one for my region.”
“With the July price cap rising, switching to a 7p overnight rate before then made our EV running costs predictable again.”
Trust indicators: Whole-of-market comparison · UK home energy focus · Postcode-based tariff checking · Plain-English breakdown of rates, windows and standing charges · Rates verified July 2026
Lock in a cheap off-peak EV rate now the 1 July 2026 cap rise has landed
Submit the form and we'll help you shortlist off-peak EV tariffs — from E.ON Next Drive (~6.7p) and Intelligent Octopus Go (7p) to OVO Charge Anytime (~7p) — that fit your home usage and charging routine, with clear guidance on day rates, standing charges and eligibility.
- Whole-of-market comparison, verified July 2026
- UK home energy only (not business)
- Quick postcode-based check
Prefer to review the essentials first? Jump to the ranked rate table.
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