Is an Octopus EV tariff worth it? How to check for your home
Most EV drivers save, but the higher day rate means some do not. A simple way to check with your own numbers before you switch.
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 |
| Octopus Go | EV tariff with a fixed night window |
| Cheap rate | 9.4p/kWh off-peak |
| Times | 00:30 to 05:30 every night |
| You need | Any EV and any charger, and a SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 smart meter |
Quick answers
- EV tariffs trade a very cheap night rate for a higher day rate; whether you save depends on how your use splits.
- Octopus says customers on fixed Intelligent Octopus Go typically saved £771 over May 2025 to April 2026 against its standard tariff.
- Low-mileage drivers with heavy daytime use they cannot move are the group most likely not to benefit.
- The break-even check takes five minutes with your own half-hourly data.
For most electric car owners an EV tariff cuts the bill substantially. Octopus says customers on its fixed Intelligent Octopus Go typically saved £771 over a year against its standard tariff. But the higher day rate means it is not automatic, so it is worth a quick check.
Why some homes do not save
An EV tariff lowers the price of night-time electricity and raises the price of daytime electricity. You save if the first effect is bigger. Octopus itself says a smaller group may not benefit, for example people who drive very little and use a lot of electricity in the day that they cannot move.
The five-minute check
You need your last year’s electricity use and, ideally, how much was at night. The Octopus app or your current supplier’s account often shows half-hourly or hourly data.
- Work out your car’s annual kWh: annual miles / miles per kWh (3.5 is a fair average).
- Work out your home’s annual kWh without the car, and estimate what share is used in the cheap window (often 10% to 25% without trying, more with timers).
- Price it on a standard tariff: (car kWh + home kWh) x standard rate.
- Price it on the EV tariff: car kWh x off-peak rate, plus home kWh in the window x off-peak rate, plus the rest x the day rate.
- Compare, including any difference in standing charges.
Use the rates from your quote for each tariff. If the EV tariff total is lower, switch.
Rules of thumb
- Over about 5,000 miles a year with overnight charging, most households save.
- Working from home raises daytime use, but the car is usually still the biggest swing.
- Electric heating or a heat pump changes the picture: see EV and heat pump.
- A home battery makes almost any EV tariff pay, because it moves daytime use to night.
Increase the saving
- Move appliances into the cheap hours: whole-home savings.
- Keep bump charges for when you need them.
- Pick the right tariff for your kit: which tariff is best?
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
How much do Octopus customers save on Intelligent Octopus Go?
Octopus says customers on its fixed Intelligent Octopus Go typically saved £771 from May 2025 to April 2026 compared with Flexible Octopus, based on their actual half-hourly use. Individual savings vary with mileage and how much use moves off-peak.
I work from home. Will an EV tariff still save me money?
Often yes, if you drive enough. Daytime use costs more, but the car is usually the largest load. Run the check below with your own figures.
Can I go back to a standard tariff?
Yes. Flexible EV tariffs have no exit fee; fixed ones may have one (£50 on Octopus's EV fixes when we checked).
Sources and further reading
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: Intelligent Octopus GoTypical saving £771, May 2025 to April 2026, against Flexible Octopus; checked 28 October 2026
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: EV tariff FAQsMost EV drivers benefit; those driving little with energy-intensive use they cannot shift may not
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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