TARIFFS

5 min read · 13 Jul 2026

Charging an EV on a standard variable electricity tariff works fine, but it means paying the same rate for a late-night top-up as for running the oven at 6pm. Moving to an EV-specific tariff is usually the single easiest way to cut your running costs, often by more than switching charger or driving style ever could.

What Is an EV Energy Tariff?

EV tariffs offer a much cheaper rate during a set overnight (or off-peak) window, typically several hours, in exchange for a higher rate the rest of the day, or a flat higher standing charge. Providers including Octopus Energy, EDF, British Gas and others all offer their own versions.

The principle is the same across providers: shift your highest-usage activity (charging the car) into the cheap window, and the tariff pays for itself many times over compared with a standard rate.

What You Need to Use One

• A smart meter capable of half-hourly reading (required by virtually all EV tariffs)
• A way to schedule charging to the off-peak window, either your car's own timer or your charger's app
• Realistic visibility of when you actually need the car ready by, so scheduled charging doesn't catch you out

A smart charger with tariff integration (some models can sync directly with supported providers) removes the manual step entirely: the charger schedules itself to the cheapest window automatically.

Standard Tariff vs EV Tariff: A Rough Comparison

On a standard variable tariff, charging a typical 60kWh battery from empty might cost somewhere in the region of £15-20. On a dedicated EV tariff's off-peak rate, the same charge can drop to roughly a quarter of that. Multiplied across a year of regular driving, the difference is usually the largest single saving an EV owner can make on running costs.

Combining a Tariff with Solar and Battery Storage

If you have solar panels, an EV tariff and self-generated power aren't mutually exclusive. A smart charger or energy management system can prioritise your own solar generation first, and only draw from the grid's cheap off-peak rate once the sun goes down or generation drops. This combination tends to produce the lowest running costs of all.

Things to Check Before Switching

• The exact length and timing of the off-peak window: does it line up with when your car is actually parked?
• The daytime/peak rate: some EV tariffs raise this noticeably in exchange for the cheap window
• Whether the standing charge changes compared with your current plan
• Whether the tariff supports export payments if you also have solar panels

A tariff that looks cheap on the headline off-peak rate can still work out worse overall if your household uses a lot of daytime electricity too. It's worth running the numbers against your actual usage, not just the advertised rate.

Getting the Setup Right

The tariff only pays off if your charger and schedule actually line up with it. A smart charger installed and configured properly, with scheduling set up correctly from day one, makes the switch effectively automatic rather than something you have to manage manually every night.

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