Octopus Energy is one of the most innovative and customer-friendly energy providers in the UK, offering some of the best tariffs for EV owners. Their Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go tariffs provide massive savings on home charging, making them two of the most popular choices for EV drivers.
These tariffs offer cheap off-peak electricity rates, and Intelligent Octopus Go goes a step further by using smart technology to optimise charging times for even greater savings. Plus, both tariffs extend their off-peak benefits to all household electricity use, not just EV charging, giving customers the potential for bigger overall savings.
In this review, we’ll explore the key features, pricing, eligibility, and real-world benefits of Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go.
- Fixed off-peak rate of 8.5p/kWh between 12am–6am for 12 months
- No exit fees
- E.ON Next Drive Smart is currently E.ON Next’s cheapest EV tariff
- Smart features and eligibility rules apply, so it suits drivers who can reliably charge overnight
- E.ON Next Drive Smart currently advertises an off-peak rate of 8.5p/kWh. E.ON Next Drive advertises 9.5p/kWh between 12am and 6am. Prices and eligibility can vary by tariff structure and customer setup.
* Next Drive Fixed v7 offers fixed priced overnight EV charging 6.7p/kWh between 12am and 7am versus Next Flex standard variable tariff at 27.03p/kWh (national average and will vary by region).
** Next Drive electricity backed by 100% renewable sources, E.ON’s renewable generation assets, agreements with UK generators and the purchase of renewable electricity certificates. The electricity supplied to your home comes from the National Grid. Smart meter required. Exit fees and T&Cs apply.
Octopus Go vs. Intelligent Octopus Go – Key Differences
| Feature | Octopus Go | Intelligent Octopus Go |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak Rate | 8.5p/kWh (12:30 am – 5:30 am) | 7p/kWh (11:30 pm – 5:30 am) |
| Peak Rate | Standard variable rate (varies by region) | Standard variable rate (varies by region) |
| Off-Peak Hours | 5 hours | 6 hours (but may extend beyond) |
| Smart Charging? | No | Yes – Octopus automatically schedules charging for the cheapest & greenest times |
| Works with all EVs? | Yes | Only with compatible EVs and chargers |
| Flexibility | Set your own charging times | Charging is automated, but you always get the off-peak rate |
| Can use off-peak for all home electricity? | Yes | Yes |
| Requires Smart Meter? | Yes | Yes |
Both tariffs offer substantial savings, but Intelligent Octopus Go has the edge with an extra hour of off-peak electricity and a lower rate, as long as you have a compatible EV or charger.
Octopus EV Tariff Rates
Octopus Go – A Simple, Low-Cost EV Tariff
Octopus Go is a two-rate EV tariff that gives you cheap electricity at 8.5p/kWh from 12:30 am to 5:30 am every night. This means you get five hours of low-cost charging—perfect for topping up an EV battery overnight.
For an EV with a 60kWh battery, a full charge from 0-100% using Octopus Go would cost:
- Off-peak rate (8.5p/kWh) → £5.10 per full charge
- Standard variable rate (28-30p/kWh) → £16-£18 per full charge
That’s a £10+ saving per charge—and over a year, you could save hundreds of pounds if you regularly charge overnight.
Intelligent Octopus Go – Even More Savings with Smart Charging
Intelligent Octopus Go takes things further by automating your charging to ensure your EV is powered up when electricity is cheapest and greenest. This means you don’t have to manually schedule charging sessions (it’s all handled for you via the Octopus Energy app).
The key benefit? No matter when your car actually charges, you’ll only pay 7p/kWh for the energy used.
- 60kWh EV battery at 7p/kWh → £4.20 per full charge
- Potential cost per mile: ~2.1p/mile
If you drive 10,000 miles per year, your total charging cost could be as low as £210 per year – way cheaper than using public chargers or standard electricity rates.
With Intelligent Octopus Go, you also get an extra hour of cheap off-peak electricity compared to standard Octopus Go.
Octopus EV Tariff Smart Features
Smart Meter Integration
Both Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go require a smart meter that can send half-hourly readings. If you don’t have one, Octopus offers free installation for eligible customers.
Intelligent Octopus Go requires additional EV or charger compatibility since it relies on Octopus controlling charging times. If your car or charger isn’t supported, Octopus Go is your best option.
Smart Charging – How It Works
With Intelligent Octopus Go, you simply:
- Plug in your EV
- Tell the Octopus app how much charge you need
- Octopus schedules charging for the cheapest and greenest times
If Octopus needs to charge your car outside the normal off-peak window, don’t worry because you’ll still pay just 7p/kWh for that energy.
Need to charge urgently? Bump charging lets you override the schedule, but any energy used outside the 11:30 pm – 5:30 am window will be billed at the peak rate.
Off-Peak Electricity for the Whole Home
Unlike some EV tariffs that only apply off-peak rates to your car, Octopus allows all home electricity use to benefit. This means you can:
- Run dishwashers, washing machines, and heating systems overnight at a lower cost
- Charge phones, laptops, and other devices for less
- Schedule smart home appliances to run during off-peak hours
This adds significant savings beyond just EV charging.
Octopus EV Tariff Eligibility
To join Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus Go, you must:
- Be an Octopus Energy customer
- Own an EV and charge it at home
- Have a compatible smart meter
- For Intelligent Octopus Go – own a compatible EV or charger
If you don’t yet have a home EV charger, Octopus Energy offers EV charger installation services, starting from £899, making it easy to get set up. Also, drivers ordering an electric vehicle through Octopus EV can now choose between £400 off a home charger installation, £400 home charging credit on an eligible Octopus Energy smart tariff, or £400 Electroverse public charging credit, depending on how they plan to charge.
If you’re unsure if your car or charger is compatible, Octopus provides a compatibility checker on their website.
Additional Benefits
Public Charging Discounts with Electroverse
Octopus EV customers get discounts on public charging with Electroverse, which offers access to hundreds of thousands of charge points across the UK & Europe via a single app and RFID card.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Charging – Power Pack Tariff
For those with V2G-compatible EVs and chargers, Octopus offers Power Pack, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) tariff that allows free EV charging by exporting energy back to the grid.
Get More Savings With an Octopus EV Scheme
If you are self emploeyed, speak to the Octopus EV Salary Sacrifice team about how they can save you money on tax and insurance, and tie in the full bundle into your EV tariff.
The Final Word on the Octopus EV Tariff
Octopus EV Tariff Pros
✔ Some of the UK’s lowest off-peak EV charging rates
✔ Off-peak pricing applies to whole-house electricity use
✔ Smart scheduling with Intelligent Octopus Go ensures lowest-cost charging
✔ Free smart meter installation
✔ Electroverse public charging discounts
✔ Available with any EV or charger (Octopus Go), or via smart charging (Intelligent Octopus Go)
Octopus EV Tariff Cons
❌ Requires a smart meter – Not suitable if you don’t have one installed yet
❌ Intelligent Octopus Go requires a compatible EV or charger
❌ Bump charging outside off-peak hours is more expensive
Octopus Energy is certainly one of the cheapest and feature packed EV tariffs in the UK. With some of the lowest home charging rates available, a smart-charging option, and public charging discounts, Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go are two of the best options for EV owners right now!
John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.
With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.
John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.
