Intelligent Octopus Go compatibility: which cars and chargers work?
Two routes onto the tariff, via your car or via your charger, how to check yours in a minute, and your options if neither is supported.
Tariff facts, checked 28 October 2026
| Intelligent Octopus Go | EV tariff with smart charging |
|---|---|
| Cheap rate | From 7.9p/kWh (Octopus's advertised smart charging rate) |
| Times | 23:30 to 05:30 for the whole home, plus up to 6 hours of scheduled car charging in any 24 hours |
| You need | A compatible car or charger, a smart meter sending half-hourly readings and the Octopus app |
Quick answers
- You qualify through your car or through your charger; you only need one of the two to be supported.
- Octopus says more than 280 cars are compatible, and its own chargers work with every EV.
- Octopus's checker on its tariff page takes your registration or charger model and gives an answer straight away.
- If neither is supported, Octopus Go works with any car, or you can fit a supported charger.
Intelligent Octopus Go only works if Octopus can control when your car charges. It can do that in two ways, and you only need one.
Route 1: through your car
Octopus connects to the car maker’s own systems (the same ones the car’s app uses) and starts and stops charging remotely. Octopus says more than 280 cars from the main EV brands are supported.
Pros: any basic charger works, including an untethered wallbox with no smart features or a three-pin cable. Cons: it depends on the car maker’s systems staying stable, and a few models have limits, for example with two cars on one account.
Route 2: through your charger
Octopus connects to a supported smart charger instead. The charger turns charging on and off; the car does not need to be on any list. Octopus says its own chargers work with any EV, and several third-party smart chargers are supported too.
Pros: works with any car the charger can charge, and often more reliable than car integrations. Cons: you need a supported charger. Octopus’s own installs start from £949 including standard installation (when we checked).
How to check yours
Use the checker on Octopus’s Intelligent Octopus Go page. Enter your registration, or choose your charger, and it tells you whether you can join. Check your exact model and, if possible, the charger’s firmware version, because support can vary within a brand.
If neither is supported
- Choose Octopus Go. It works with every car and charger; you set the timer yourself. See Octopus Go explained.
- Fit a supported charger if you are getting one anyway. Our home charger reviews note smart tariff support for each model.
- Leave your email with Octopus. It adds models regularly and offers to tell you when yours is supported.
Before you switch
Make sure your charger or car app is working, your home Wi-Fi reaches the charger reliably, and you know your car’s charge limit setting. Smart charging works best when Octopus can see the car is plugged in and has a clear target.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Tariff times, rules and rates come from Octopus Energy's own tariff pages and its public price API on the date shown. Off-peak rates quoted are national; day rates and standing charges vary by region, so check your postcode. EV Compared earns a referral reward if you switch through our Octopus links; it does not change what we write. Last checked 28 October 2026. How we work out our own figures.
Frequently asked questions
Does it matter whether I connect through the car or the charger?
Either works. Connecting through a supported charger is often the most reliable route, because it does not depend on the car maker's systems. Connecting through the car means any basic charger, or even a three-pin cable, can be used.
What if my car stops being compatible?
Octopus says car makers' specifications and systems change, so it cannot guarantee compatibility. If your car stops working with the tariff, it says it will tell you and suggest alternatives.
Will an Ohme, Zappi or Hypervolt work?
Several popular smart chargers are supported, but models and firmware matter. Check your exact charger in Octopus's checker before you switch.
Sources and further reading
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: Intelligent Octopus GoCar registration and charger checker; compatibility not guaranteed; Octopus chargers from £949 installed; checked 28 October 2026
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: EV tariff FAQsOver 280 compatible cars; Octopus chargers compatible with all EVs
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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