Part of our guide to charging a Chinese electric car in the UK. Rates checked September 2026; tariffs change often, so always confirm with the supplier.
The tariff you charge on matters more than the car or the charger. On the standard price cap, electricity costs about 26p per kWh. On a dedicated EV tariff, overnight electricity is typically 7p to 9.5p per kWh, roughly a third of the price. For a typical driver that is the difference between spending hundreds of pounds a year on charging and spending well under a hundred.
Work out your own cost: pick your car and enter your tariff and mileage in our EV charging cost calculator.
Best EV tariffs UK 2026: off-peak rates compared
| Tariff | Supplier | Off-peak rate | Off-peak hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Octopus Go | Octopus Energy | About 7p to 8p/kWh | 23:30 to 05:30 (6 hours) | Smart-scheduled charging; extra cheap slots can appear outside the window. Needs a compatible car or charger. |
| Octopus Go | Octopus Energy | About 9.5p/kWh | 00:30 to 05:30 (5 hours) | Works with any charger; you set the schedule yourself. |
| EDF GoElectric | EDF | About 7p/kWh | 23:00 to 06:00 (7 hours) | Long off-peak window. |
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | E.ON Next | About 8p/kWh | 00:00 to 06:00 (6 hours) | Smart charging for eligible cars and chargers. |
| British Gas EV Power+ | British Gas | About 7.9p/kWh | 00:00 to 05:00 (5 hours) | Shorter window; fine for most daily mileage. |
| OVO Charge Anytime | OVO | Subscription (about £27.50 to £37.50/month) | Smart-scheduled | Changed in late 2025 from a per-kWh rate to a monthly bundle; best for high-mileage drivers. |
How much does it cost to charge at home?
Take a typical Chinese family EV with a 60kWh usable battery, such as the BYD Dolphin or MG4. Charging it from 10% to 80% puts in about 42kWh.
| Electricity price | Cost of a 10% to 80% charge (60kWh battery) | Approximate cost per mile |
|---|---|---|
| EV tariff off-peak (7.5p/kWh) | About £3.15 | About 2p |
| Octopus Go (9.5p/kWh) | About £4.00 | About 3p |
| Standard price cap (26.32p/kWh) | About £11.05 | About 8p |
| Public rapid charger (77p/kWh average) | About £32.35 | About 22p |
The price gap between an overnight tariff and a public rapid charger is roughly tenfold. That is why almost every running-cost comparison assumes home charging, and why a home charger plus an EV tariff is the best investment most EV owners can make. Want the figure for your exact car? See charging times and costs for every Chinese EV.
Which EV tariff should you choose?
- Low to average mileage, any charger: a fixed-window tariff such as Octopus Go is simple and predictable.
- Compatible car or smart charger: Intelligent Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric or E.ON Next Drive Smart usually give the lowest rates.
- Very high mileage: a bundle such as OVO Charge Anytime can work out cheaper, but check the maths against your real usage.
- Solar panels or a home battery: look at how each tariff pays for exported electricity as well as the import rate.
Is my Chinese EV compatible with smart tariffs?
Smart tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go control charging either through the car’s own app connection or through a compatible home charger. Several newer Chinese models are supported directly, but the list changes frequently. The easy route is a compatible smart charger, which works with any car. See our best home EV chargers guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest EV tariff in the UK?
Overnight rates of around 7p to 8p per kWh are currently offered by Intelligent Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric and British Gas EV Power+. The cheapest for you depends on your off-peak window, your region and whether your car or charger is compatible.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home in the UK?
On an EV tariff, a typical 10% to 80% charge of a 60kWh battery costs around £3 to £4. On the standard price cap it is about £11.
Do I need a smart meter for an EV tariff?
Yes. EV tariffs rely on half-hourly or time-of-use readings, so a working smart meter is required.
Can I get an EV tariff without a home charger?
Some tariffs work with a three-pin charging cable, but many smart tariffs need a compatible charger or car. A dedicated wallbox is also much faster and safer.
Sources: supplier tariff pages and UK comparison data (2026), Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p/kWh electricity), Zapmap Charging Price Index (August 2026). Rates are indicative and vary by region.