The Best EV Tariffs 2025 | Electric Car Guide (2025)

What Is an EV Tariff and How Does It Work?

Charging at home is going to make your electricity bill bigger – that’s unavoidable! That’s where EV tariffs come in. These are special energy plans designed specifically for EV drivers, offering cheaper electricity rates at certain times (usually overnight) so you can charge your car for less.

Most EV tariffs work on a time-of-use basis, meaning the price of electricity varies depending on the time of day. The idea is simple: energy demand drops at night, making it cheaper for suppliers to provide power. By shifting your car charging to these off-peak hours, you can take advantage of much lower rates compared to a standard energy tariff.

Some EV tariffs also come with smart features, like automatic scheduling that charges your car when rates are at their lowest. If you have a smart meter, your energy provider can track when you use electricity and bill you accordingly.

But EV tariffs aren’t just about saving money, they can also help the grid. By encouraging EV drivers to charge at night, energy companies can balance demand more effectively, reducing the strain on the system and making better use of renewable energy sources like wind power, which often produces surplus energy overnight.

In short, an EV tariff helps you cut costs while making home charging more efficient and sustainable. But is it the right choice for you? That depends on your charging habits and energy provider, so let’s explore how to pick the best EV tariff.

The Best EV Tariffs in the UK for 2025

To work out the best EV tariffs available in the UK right now, we consulted Electric Car Guide’s EV focus group, a community of real-world EV drivers who shared their insights on what matters most when choosing an energy tariff. Their top priorities included low off-peak rates, flexibility, ease of switching, and compatibility with smart meters and chargers.

Based on their feedback, we have reviewed the EV tariffs from leading energy providers and ranked them based on price, flexibility, and overall benefits for EV owners.

Below, we rank and review the best EV tariffs available in 2025:

Our Best EV Tariff 2025

E.ON Next Drive

• Off-Peak Rate: 6.7p/kWh (12am-7am)
• Peak Rate: 24.86p/kWh
• Standing Charge: Varies by region
• Exit Fees: None
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

E.ON Next Drive Pros

• The cheapest off-peak rate available (6.7p/kWh).
• No exit fees—maximum flexibility.
• Seven-hour off-peak period is longer than most competitors.

E.ON Next Drive Cons

• Peak rate is not the lowest available.
• Only available to new E.ON customers.

Best Flexible EV Tariff

OVO Charge Anytime

• Off-Peak Rate: 7p/kWh (anytime with smart charging)
• Peak Rate: Standard home electricity rate
• Standing Charge: Varies by region
• Exit Fees: None
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

OVO Charge Anytime Pros

• Fixed 7p/kWh rate all day with smart charging.
• No exit fees and works with multiple EV models and chargers.
• Smart tech prioritizes charging when the grid is greenest.

OVO Charge Anytime Cons

• New customers must wait 4-6 weeks before activating Charge Anytime.

Best Tariff for Dynamic Smart Charging

Octopus Intelligent Go

• Off-Peak Rate: 7.5p/kWh (Dynamic scheduling)
• Peak Rate: Standard home electricity rate
• Standing Charge: Varies by region
• Exit Fees: None
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

Octopus Intelligent Go Pros:

• Intelligent smart charging ensures maximum savings.
• One of the cheapest EV tariffs, optimizing charge times.
• No exit fees, allowing for easy switching.

Octopus Intelligent Go Cons

• Peak rate is variable.

Best Dynamic EV Tariff

Octopus Intelligent

• Off-Peak Rate: 7.5p/kWh (Dynamic scheduling)
• Peak Rate: Standard home electricity rate
• Standing Charge: Varies by region
• Exit Fees: None
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

Octopus Intelligent Pros

• One of the cheapest EV tariffs, with smart charging optimization.
• No exit fees, making it easy to switch.

Octopus Intelligent Cons

• Peak rate is variable.

Best Tariff for 100% Renewable Energy

Good Energy EV Tariff

• Off-Peak Rate: 6.75p/kWh (12am-5am)
• Peak Rate: Variable (fixed for 12 months upon sign-up)
• Standing Charge: Varies by region
• Exit Fees: £75
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

Good Energy Pros

• Low off-peak rate (6.75p/kWh) for overnight charging.
• 100% renewable electricity sourced from independent UK generators.
• Free Zapmap Premium subscription for enhanced EV route planning.

Good Energy Cons

• Short off-peak window (only 5 hours per night).
• Exit fees of £75.
• Peak rate varies by region and is higher than some other tariffs.

Best Tariff for Ethical Energy

Ecotricity EV Tariff

• Off-Peak Rate: 8p/kWh (12am-5am)
• Peak Rate: 29p/kWh
• Standing Charge: 61.04p/day
• Exit Fees: £100 per fuel
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

Ecotricity EV Tariff Pros

• Fully renewable electricity from ethical sources.
• Price fixed for one year, offering stability.
• Available to both EV and non-EV owners.
• Supports green infrastructure development.

Ecotricity EV Tariff Cons

• Very high standing charge (61.04p/day).
• Expensive peak rate (29p/kWh).
• Exit fee of £100 per fuel.

Best EV Tariff for Fixed Pricing

Scottish Power EV Charge

• Off-Peak Rate: 8p/kWh (12am-5am)
• Peak Rate: 26p/kWh
• Standing Charge: 45p/day
• Exit Fees: £50 per fuel
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

Scottish Power EV Charge Pros

• Fixed pricing for stability.
• Competitive off-peak rate compared to other fixed tariffs.
• Available to both new and existing customers.

Scottish Power EV Charge Cons

• Higher peak rate than some competitors.
• Exit fees of £50 per fuel.

Best EV Tariff for British Gas Customers

British Gas Electric Driver

• Off-Peak Rate: 7.9p/kWh (12am-5am)
• Peak Rate: 28p/kWh
• Standing Charge: Varies by region
• Exit Fees: £50 per fuel
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

British Gas Electric Driver Pros

• Competitive off-peak rate for British Gas customers.
• Well-established provider with dual-fuel options.
• Decent peak rate compared to some competitors.

British Gas Electric Driver Cons

• Exit fees of £50 per fuel.
• Shorter off-peak window (5 hours).

Best Variable EV Tariff

EDF EV Tariff

• Off-Peak Rate: 9p/kWh (12am-5am)
• Peak Rate: Variable
• Standing Charge: 49p/day
• Exit Fees: None
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

EDF EV Tariff Pros

• Variable pricing for those willing to take market risks.
• Works with all EVs and chargers.
• No exit fees—flexibility to switch.

EDF EV Tariff Cons

• Peak rate is variable.

Best EV Tariff for Bundled Savings

Utility Warehouse EV Optimise

• Off-Peak Rate: 7.5p/kWh (12am-5am)
• Peak Rate: Standard variable rate
• Standing Charge: 50p/day
• Exit Fees: None
• Smart Meter Required: Yes

Utility Warehouse EV Optimise Pros

• Discounts for customers who bundle other services.
• No exit fees—flexible switching.

Utility Warehouse EV Optimise Cons

• Must bundle services to access the lowest rates.
• Variable peak rate.

Which EV Tariff is Best for You?

The best EV tariff for you depends on how and when you charge:

• For the cheapest off-peak rate, go with E.on Next Drive (6.7p/kWh)
• For the most flexible charging times, OVO Charge Anytime (7p/kWh) is ideal
• For solar panel owners, Intelligent Octopus Go (7p/kWh) is the best fit
• For price stability, British Gas Electric Driver (7.9p/kWh) offers a fixed deal
• For long-term certainty, EDF Go Electric (8.99p/kWh) is worth considering

EV Tariff Cost Comparison for 2025

So far we have looked at the features and unit prices of all EV tariffs, now lets take a look at the total cost of charging based on three different charging habits:

1. Night-Only Charging (200 kWh/month charged during off-peak hours).
2. Mixed Charging (120 kWh off-peak, 80 kWh peak).
3. Day-Only Charging (200 kWh/month charged during peak hours).

The following table is a cost comparison based on these charging profiles:

EV Tariff Cost Comparison Table

1. Best Tariff for Night-Only Charging:
   • E.ON Next Drive (£13.40/month) and Good Energy EV Charge (£13.50/month) offer the lowest costs for EV drivers who charge exclusively at night.
   • Octopus Intelligent Go (£14.00/month) is also competitive and provides smart scheduling for additional savings.
2. Best Tariff for Mixed Charging:
   • Octopus Intelligent Go (£36.80/month) is the best value, followed by E.ON Next Drive (£37.88/month).
   • Good Energy EV Charge (£38.70/month) also remains a strong option for those who prioritize renewables.
3. Best Tariff for Day-Only Charging:
   • Octopus Intelligent Go (£48.00/month) and E.ON Next Drive (£49.72/month) provide the lowest peak-rate costs.
   • British Gas Electric Driver (£56.00/month) and Ecotricity (£58.00/month) are among the highest for peak-time charging.

Compare All EV Tariffs

Looking for even more data? Our EV Tariff Comparison table gives you everything you need to compare the full range of tariffs available right now. We’ve gathered all the key details like off-peak rates, charging windows, exit fees, and extra perks, so you can quickly see which tariff suits your needs.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of all key EV tariffs in the UK:

How to Compare Tariffs

With so many energy providers offering EV-specific tariffs, it can be a tricky product to compare and to work out which one is right for you. Here’s how to compare EV tariffs properly and make sure you’re getting the best value.

Look at Off-Peak Charging Rates

The main selling point of an EV tariff is the cheaper overnight electricity rate. The best providers offer rates as low as 7p per kWh, while others might be slightly higher. The lower the off-peak rate, the cheaper your charging costs will be—so this should be your starting point.

Check the Off-Peak Hours

Not all EV tariffs have the same off-peak window. Some, like Octopus Go, offer four hours of cheap electricity (e.g., 00:30 – 04:30), while others may provide a longer off-peak period but at a slightly higher rate. The best option for you depends on whether you can time your charging to fit within these hours. If you need more flexibility, a tariff with a longer off-peak window might be better.

Compare the Daytime (Peak) Rates

While off-peak rates are the main attraction, don’t ignore the standard daytime rate. Some EV tariffs compensate for cheaper night-time electricity by increasing the cost of electricity during the day. If you use a lot of power during the day for things like working from home or running appliances, a tariff with a lower peak rate might be more cost-effective overall.

Do You Need a Smart Meter?

Most EV tariffs require a smart meter to track your electricity usage and apply the right rates at the right times. If you don’t have one yet, you’ll need to check whether your provider offers free installation or whether switching to an EV tariff will require an extra step.

Fixed vs. Variable Rates

Additional Perks and Features

Some EV tariffs come with extra benefits, such as:

• Integration with home solar panels – allows you to charge directly from your own solar energy.
• Discounts on public charging networks – useful if you regularly charge away from home.
• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) compatibility – lets you sell excess energy from your car back to the grid (still a niche option, but growing).

Are There Exit Fees?

If you’re switching to a new tariff, check whether there are any exit fees. Some providers charge a penalty for leaving early, especially for fixed-rate tariffs. If you like flexibility, look for a plan with no exit fees so you can switch if a better deal comes along.

uring off-peak hours, a tariff with automation features could make life easier.

The Final Word on the Best EV Tariff for 2025

Choosing the best EV tariff depends on how and when you charge, but one thing is clear, switching to an EV-specific energy plan can save you a significant amount of money. With off-peak rates as low as 6.7p per kWh, a well-chosen tariff can cut home charging costs by more than half compared to a standard electricity plan.

For most drivers, the cheapest EV tariff right now is E.on Next Drive, offering the lowest off-peak rate and a generous seven-hour charging window. If flexibility is your priority, OVO Charge Anytime allows you to charge at a low rate at any time of day. And for those with solar panels, Intelligent Octopus Go is an excellent choice, integrating smart charging with home energy generation.

The best tariff for you will depend on your driving habits, home energy usage, and whether you need a fixed or flexible plan. But no matter which provider you choose, moving to an EV-friendly energy tariff is one of the easiest ways to lower your running costs and make home charging more efficient.

With energy prices always changing, it’s worth keeping an eye on the latest tariffs and reviewing your plan regularly. A quick switch today could mean hundreds of pounds in savings over the next year.