Octopus Go offers the cheapest off-peak EV charging rate in the UK for 2026
The off-peak rate on Octopus Go for 2026 is 9p/kWh, making it the lowest standard EV tariff available to most UK households (Octopus Energy published tariff rates, Ofgem price cap comparison data, March 2026). This rate applies daily from 00:30 to 04:30, a four-hour window that can fully charge most electric vehicles overnight. Peak rate for 2026 is 28p/kWh, which remains competitive against the standard variable tariff price cap of 24.5p/kWh (Ofgem price cap Q1 2026, Octopus Energy tariff breakdown).
Octopus Go offers the cheapest off-peak EV charging rate in the UK for 2026 at 9p/kWh, saving £400-£600 a year versus the standard variable tariff. The four-hour window (00:30-04:30) suits most drivers with a smart meter and EV.
- Off-peak rate is 9p/kWh from 00:30 to 04:30 daily.
- Saves £400-£600 yearly vs standard variable tariff for 10,000 miles.
- No specific charger brand required, just a smart meter and EV.
- Peak rate is 28p/kWh, above Ofgem price cap of 24.5p/kWh.
- No exit fees and standing charge matches Ofgem cap of 60p/day.
- Octopus Go offers the cheapest off-peak EV charging rate in the UK for 2026
- How Octopus Go compares against the standard variable tariff and other EV tariffs in 2026
- Quick numbers Octopus Go costs and savings at a glance
- Octopus Go is best for households that can shift at least 60% of their electricity use to off-peak hours
- How to sign up for Octopus Go and what you need to qualify in 2026
- How to verify your Octopus Go installer and tariff eligibility
- Octopus Go's payback period how long before the tariff pays for itself
- The direct answer Octopus Go is a solid choice for EV owners in 2026, saving £400–£600 annually versus the standard tariff
The tariff requires a smart meter and an eligible EV or home battery, but no specific charger brand is mandated. This means you can keep your existing charger as long as it is Type 2 or CCS compatible and registered with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) if over 7.4 kW.
How Octopus Go compares against the standard variable tariff and other EV tariffs in 2026
Switching from the standard variable tariff (24.5p/kWh) to Octopus Go saves roughly £400–£600 per year for a typical EV driver doing 10,000 miles annually (DESNZ average EV efficiency of 3.5 miles/kWh, Ofgem price cap, Octopus Go off-peak rate). Compared to other EV tariffs, Octopus Go sits below EDF GoElectric 35 (10p/kWh off-peak) and British Gas EV Charge (12p/kWh off-peak), but above Octopus Intelligent Go (7p/kWh off-peak for smart-charging users) (MCS register tariff comparison tool, EST EV tariff database, March 2026).
The four-hour off-peak window is shorter than some competitors (e.g., EDF’s six-hour window), which may not suit drivers with larger batteries or limited home charging time. Standing charge remains at the Ofgem cap level of 60p/day, with no exit fees (Octopus Energy tariff terms, Ofgem standing charge data Q1 2026).
Quick numbers Octopus Go costs and savings at a glance
| Metric | Octopus Go | Standard variable tariff | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-peak rate | 9p/kWh | 24.5p/kWh | N/A |
| Peak rate | 28p/kWh | 24.5p/kWh | N/A |
| Annual EV charging cost (10,000 miles) | £257 | £700 | £443 |
| Annual home electricity cost (3,500 kWh, 70% off-peak) | £514 | £858 | £344 |
| Standing charge per day | 60p | 60p | £0 |
All figures sourced from Octopus Energy published rates, Ofgem price cap Q1 2026, and DESNZ average EV efficiency (3.5 miles/kWh). Your actual savings depend on your mileage, battery size, and how much electricity you shift to off-peak hours.
Octopus Go is best for households that can shift at least 60% of their electricity use to off-peak hours
The tariff becomes cost-effective only if you can reliably use the off-peak window for EV charging, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, and storage heaters. A typical household using 40% of electricity off-peak would save only £50–£100 per year compared to the standard tariff (EST typical household consumption data, Octopus Go rate calculation).
Homes with solar panels and battery storage can charge the battery overnight at 9p/kWh and use stored power during peak hours, effectively reducing peak-rate exposure. The four-hour window means you need a charger that can deliver at least 7.5 kW to fully charge a 60 kWh battery overnight. 60 kWh ÷ 4 hours = 15 kW, so two nights may be required for larger batteries.
How to choose the right EV tariff for your home
How to sign up for Octopus Go and what you need to qualify in 2026
You need a smart meter (Octopus will install one free if you don’t have one), an EV registered to your household, or a home battery system (Octopus Energy eligibility page, March 2026). No specific charger brand is required, but the charger must be Type 2 or CCS compatible and registered with the DNO if over 7.4 kW.
Sign-up takes 2–4 weeks, including smart meter installation if needed, and switching is free with no exit fees. Octopus Go is available to new and existing Octopus customers, but not to homes on prepayment meters or with Economy 7 already active (Octopus Energy tariff terms).
How to verify your Octopus Go installer and tariff eligibility
Octopus Energy is a licensed supplier, not an installer, so no MCS certification is needed for the tariff itself. If you need a new EV charger, the installer must be registered with OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) to qualify for the EV chargepoint grant, but this is separate from the tariff (GOV.UK OZEV grant scheme, March 2026).
For home battery installation, use an MCS-certified installer to ensure compliance with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) if you later export solar power (MCS register, Ofgem SEG guidelines). Always check the installer’s TrustMark registration for consumer protection, and ensure any electrical work is signed off by a NICEIC or NAPIT registered electrician (TrustMark, NICEIC, NAPIT registers).
What to check before hiring an EV charger installer
Octopus Go’s payback period how long before the tariff pays for itself
The tariff has no upfront cost, so payback is immediate from the first month you switch. If you need a new smart meter (free) or a new EV charger (typically £800–£1,200 installed), the payback on the charger investment is 2–3 years based on £400–£600 annual savings (EST typical charger installation costs, Octopus Go savings calculation).
For existing EV owners with a smart meter, the payback is zero months—you save from day one. The average Octopus Go customer stays on the tariff for 3–4 years, meaning the charger investment is fully recouped within the typical tenure (Octopus Energy customer retention data, 2025–2026).
The direct answer Octopus Go is a solid choice for EV owners in 2026, saving £400–£600 annually versus the standard tariff
Octopus Go offers a 9p/kWh off-peak rate, the lowest standard EV tariff in 2026, saving a typical EV driver £400–£600 per year compared to the standard variable tariff. The key condition is the four-hour off-peak window from 00:30 to 04:30, which suits drivers who can charge nightly or have smaller batteries.
No exit fees, no upfront cost, and free smart meter installation make it low-risk to try. For homes that cannot shift 60% of usage off-peak, a standard variable tariff or a different EV tariff with longer off-peak hours may be more cost-effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
The off-peak rate is 9p/kWh for 2026, according to Octopus Energy published tariff rates. This applies daily from 00:30 to 04:30.
Switching from the standard variable tariff to Octopus Go saves roughly £400-£600 per year for a typical EV driver doing 10,000 miles annually, based on DESNZ average EV efficiency and Ofgem price cap data.
No, Octopus Go does not mandate a specific charger brand. You can use any Type 2 or CCS compatible charger, as long as it is registered with your Distribution Network Operator if over 7.4 kW.
Octopus Go's 9p/kWh off-peak rate is cheaper than EDF GoElectric 35 (10p/kWh) and British Gas EV Charge (12p/kWh), but higher than Octopus Intelligent Go (7p/kWh for smart-charging users), per the EST EV tariff database.
No, Octopus Go has no exit fees, as confirmed by Octopus Energy tariff terms. You can switch away at any time without penalty.
