Intelligent Octopus Go smart charging: schedules, bump charges and billing
How Octopus decides when your car charges, how every kind of charge is billed, and simple habits that keep scheduled charging reliable.
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
- Octopus schedules your charge in the cheapest half-hour slots it expects before your ready-by time, using wholesale prices.
- Scheduled charging is billed at the off-peak rate whenever it happens, for up to six hours in 24 hours.
- A bump charge starts at once and is billed at the rate in force at that moment.
- Plug in as soon as you get home and set a realistic target: the longer you are plugged in, the more cheap slots Octopus can choose from.
On Intelligent Octopus Go, you tell Octopus what you need and it decides when to charge. Understanding how it decides, and how each kind of charge is billed, avoids surprises on your bill.
How Octopus builds your schedule
When you plug in, the Octopus app knows two things you set: the charge level you want and the time you need the car by. Octopus then looks at wholesale prices for the half-hours between now and your ready-by time and picks the cheapest ones it expects, which are usually the greenest too. You can see the planned slots in the app before they happen.
Most slots land in the 23:30 to 05:30 window, but on nights with high demand or days with lots of wind and sun, some may fall elsewhere.
How each charge is billed
| Type of charge | Billed at |
|---|---|
| Scheduled by Octopus, any time of day (up to 6 hours in 24) | Off-peak rate |
| Anything else in your home during a scheduled slot | Off-peak rate |
| Anything in your home from 23:30 to 05:30 | Off-peak rate |
| Bump charge outside 23:30 to 05:30 | Day rate |
| Everything else | Day rate |
Bump charges
A bump charge is the “charge now” button. Use it when you need range before the schedule would deliver it. It is billed at the rate in force at the time, so a bump in the evening costs your day rate. You can stop a bump charge from the app at any time.
Habits for reliable smart charging
- Plug in when you get home, not at bedtime. More hours plugged in means more cheap slots to choose from.
- Set a target your charger can reach. A 7kW charger adds about 42kWh in six hours; ask for more than that and Octopus cannot fit it all in.
- Keep the charger online. Weak Wi-Fi is the most common cause of missed schedules on charger integrations.
- Do not set a separate timer in the car or charger. Two schedules fight each other; let Octopus control timing.
- Check the app the first few nights to confirm the planned slots appear and the car charges.
If a schedule fails
Check the car is plugged in and showing in the app, that the car’s own charge limit is above your target, and that the charger is online. If problems continue, Octopus’s support team can see your device’s connection history.
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
Why did my car charge in the afternoon?
Octopus picks the slots it expects to be cheapest, which are sometimes during the day. Scheduled charging is billed at the off-peak rate wherever it falls, and the rest of your home gets the cheap rate during those slots too.
Do bump charges count towards the six hours?
A bump charge is your own manual charge, outside the schedule, and is billed at whatever rate applies at that moment rather than the guaranteed off-peak rate.
What happens after six hours of smart charging?
Octopus says it schedules up to six hours of smart charging every 24 hours at the off-peak rate. Plan your target so the car can reach it within that time at your charger's speed.
Sources and further reading
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: Intelligent Octopus GoScheduling by wholesale price signals; up to 6 hours in 24; bump charge at day rate; checked 28 October 2026
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: EV tariff FAQsScheduled charging always billed at off-peak; boost charges billed at the rate in force
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