Best EV Tariff UK 2026
Octopus Intelligent Go vs Octopus Go vs OVO Charge Anytime vs EDF, British Gas and Scottish Power — the cheapest UK electricity tariffs for EV drivers in 2026, compared head-to-head.
Updated June 2026
Intelligent Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh) is the cheapest UK EV tariff in 2026 if your car or smart charger is on the compatibility list. Octopus Go (8.5p) is the simpler next-best option for anyone whose hardware isn't supported. OVO Charge Anytime (8.5p) wins for drivers who can't reliably charge inside a fixed window. Every published EV tariff requires a working SMETS2 smart meter.
On 8,000 miles a year, switching from a standard variable tariff to an EV off-peak tariff saves around £400–£700 on the EV alone. For a household-specific estimate covering EVs, heat pumps and solar, run the numbers through our smart meter savings calculator.
UK EV tariff comparison (2026)
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Off-peak window | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Intelligent Octopus Go Octopus Energy | 7.5p/kWh | 6 hours (23:30–05:30) plus app-extended smart sessions | Households whose car/charger is on the compatibility list — the longest cheap window on the market. |
Octopus Go Octopus Energy | 8.5p/kWh | 5 hours (00:30–05:30 fixed) | Anyone with an EV and a standard 7kW wallbox who can't qualify for Intelligent Go. |
OVO Charge Anytime OVO Energy | 8.5p/kWh (charging only) | Any time — applied retrospectively to charging kWh | Drivers who can't reliably charge inside a fixed off-peak window (shift workers, holiday charging). |
EDF GoElectric Overnight EDF | 9p/kWh | 5 hours (00:00–05:00) | Existing EDF customers wanting a fixed 12-month price stability play. |
British Gas Electric Driver British Gas | 9.9p/kWh | 5 hours (00:00–05:00) | British Gas customers who don't want to switch supplier but want the cheap window. |
Scottish Power EV Saver Scottish Power | 8.9p/kWh | 4 hours (00:30–04:30) | Households on Scottish Power who can keep charging inside a tight 4-hour window. |
Rates above are the current published off-peak figures from each supplier's public tariff page, June 2026. Peak rates outside the off-peak window roughly track the Ofgem default cap (24–26p/kWh). Always confirm the current rate and contract length on the supplier site before signing up — wholesale electricity prices can move quickly.
Annual cost: standard tariff vs EV tariff
Worked example: 8,000 miles/year, 3.5 miles/kWh efficiency = 2,286 kWh of charging per year.
| Tariff | Rate | Annual EV electricity | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard variable | 24.5p/kWh | £560 | baseline |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | 7.5p/kWh | £172 | £388 |
| Octopus Go | 8.5p/kWh | £194 | £366 |
| OVO Charge Anytime | 8.5p/kWh | £194 | £366 |
| Scottish Power EV Saver | 8.9p/kWh | £203 | £357 |
| EDF GoElectric Overnight | 9p/kWh | £206 | £354 |
| British Gas Electric Driver | 9.9p/kWh | £226 | £334 |
These are EV-only figures. Households with higher mileage or a larger battery scale linearly — at 12,000 miles/year the savings rise by ~50%. The figures assume 100% of EV charging happens inside the off-peak window; in practice 90–95% is typical for drivers with a smart charger.
Which EV tariff should you pick?
The right choice depends on three things: whether your hardware is compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go, how predictable your overnight charging is, and what other big electrical loads (heat pump, battery, solar) you have at home. The decision tree is short:
- Got a 2022+ EV or a compatible smart charger (Ohme, Hypervolt, Zappi, Wallbox)? Intelligent Octopus Go — cheapest rate, longest window.
- EV is older or your charger isn't on the compatibility list? Octopus Go — slightly more expensive, no compatibility check.
- Can't commit to charging inside a fixed window (shift work, holidays, irregular routine)? OVO Charge Anytime — credits charging kWh at any time.
- Already with EDF, British Gas or Scottish Power and don't want to switch? Take their EV tariff — still cheaper than the standard variable. EDF GoElectric's 12-month fix is the best price-stability play of these.
- Got a heat pump as well as an EV? If the heat pump dominates your bill, Octopus Cosy may beat any EV tariff overall. Run both scenarios through the smart meter savings calculator before committing.
What you need to qualify
- A SMETS2 smart meter in half-hourly mode. A non-smart SMETS1 cannot bill the off-peak window separately — see our SMETS1 vs SMETS2 guide if you're unsure which you have.
- Proof of EV ownership or a registered smart charger. Suppliers check this at sign-up.
- A 7kW home wallbox. Granny-cable charging from a 3-pin socket still benefits from the off-peak rate but slows enough that you may not finish in the window. See our best EV charger guide for the chargers that handle Intelligent Octopus Go cleanly.
- A working in-home display. Not strictly required, but the easiest way to verify your supplier is honouring the off-peak rate. See our best smart meter IHD guide for displays that show half-hourly consumption clearly.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK EV tariff is cheapest in 2026?
Intelligent Octopus Go at 7.5p/kWh has the lowest published off-peak rate. Octopus Go (8.5p) and OVO Charge Anytime (8.5p) are joint second. EDF GoElectric Overnight (9p) and Scottish Power EV Saver (8.9p) sit slightly above. British Gas Electric Driver (9.9p) is the most expensive of the major-supplier EV tariffs. The cheapest published rate doesn't always win in practice — if your car or charger isn't on Intelligent Go's compatibility list, Go at 8.5p is the next-best fixed-window option. If you can't reliably charge between 00:30 and 05:30, OVO Charge Anytime's anytime-billing model often beats both.
Do I need a smart meter for an EV tariff?
Yes. Every published UK EV tariff requires a working SMETS2 smart meter operating in half-hourly settlement mode through the DCC. Without it the supplier cannot bill your off-peak kWh separately. If you have a SMETS1 meter it likely needs migrating — your supplier handles this free of charge, usually inside 90 days. If your current SMETS2 has gone "dumb" after a switch, your supplier is required to restore the smart connection within 90 days under Ofgem rules. Our smart meter problems guide walks through how to push them on it.
Octopus Go vs Intelligent Octopus Go — which should I pick?
Intelligent Go is cheaper (7.5p vs 8.5p) and gives a longer cheap window (6 hours vs 5), but it only works if your car or charger is on Octopus's compatibility list. Octopus controls the charging session — the app starts and stops the charge to balance the grid. If you want full manual control over when you charge, or your hardware isn't compatible, plain Octopus Go is the right pick. For most drivers with a 2022+ EV and a smart charger like an Ohme, Zappi, Hypervolt or Wallbox, Intelligent Go is the better deal.
How much can the right EV tariff save me?
On 8,000 miles per year of typical UK driving the difference between a standard variable tariff (~24.5p/kWh) and an EV off-peak tariff (7.5–9p) is around £400–£700 per year just on the EV. If you also run a heat pump on a heat-pump-friendly tariff like Octopus Cosy, or a home battery on time-of-use arbitrage, the gap widens. Plug your bill and assets into our smart meter savings calculator for a household-specific estimate.
Can I get an EV tariff without an EV?
Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime require proof of EV ownership or a smart charger registered to your supply. EDF GoElectric Overnight and British Gas Electric Driver historically required a declaration but enforcement is light. If you have a home battery or a heat pump but no EV, you may still qualify for an EV tariff at signup — though the supplier may move you off it if usage doesn't look like EV charging. The cleaner play if you have a heat pump is Octopus Cosy, not an EV tariff.
Does Octopus Cosy compete with EV tariffs?
Cosy is a heat-pump tariff (three cheap windows totalling 9 hours/day at ~13p/kWh, the standard rate the rest of the time). It is cheaper than Go on a per-kWh basis for the heat pump but more expensive for the EV — the trade-off depends on how big each load is. Households with both a heat pump and an EV often split: Cosy if the heat pump dominates (large home, ASHP running long hours), Go or Intelligent if the EV dominates (short home, high mileage). Octopus does not currently allow both on the same MPAN.
Are EV tariffs fixed-rate or variable?
Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go are variable — the off-peak rate has held steady but the peak rate moves with the wider Octopus tracker product. EDF GoElectric is offered on a 12-month fixed term. OVO Charge Anytime applies a fixed charging-only credit on top of your underlying tariff (which can be fixed or variable). British Gas Electric Driver is a 12-month fixed product. Check the current contract length on the supplier site before signing up — wholesale prices can move quickly.
How do I switch to an EV tariff?
Apply directly on the supplier's site — the switch takes 5–10 working days under the Faster Switching guarantee. Your existing supplier handles the meter readings. If you don't yet have a SMETS2 meter the supplier will arrange a free upgrade install before activating the tariff, which can add 4–8 weeks. Confirm in writing which charging hours apply before you sign — and check the early-exit fee on any 12-month fixed product.
Related Guides
Five smart wallboxes compared — including the chargers compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go.
Punch in your car and tariff for a per-charge and annual cost figure.
Household-specific estimate combining EV tariff, heat pump, solar and battery savings.
Per-charge and per-mile costs across standard, smart and solar tariffs.
The SMETS2 prerequisite every EV tariff depends on — explained in full.
Why SMETS1 meters often block EV tariffs and how to get yours migrated.
Cable vs socket — which wallbox format suits your driveway and future EV.