Octopus Go

Octopus Go is the tariff most EV owners end up on, and for good reason. It gives you a five-hour window of super cheap electricity overnight, perfect for charging your car while you sleep. The off-peak rate is typically around 7.5p/kWh, compared to 25p+ on a standard tariff.

How it works

Simple two-rate system. Between 00:30 and 05:30, you pay the off-peak rate (around 7.5p/kWh, varies by region). Outside that window, you pay a daytime rate which is slightly higher than the Flexible tariff. You need a smart meter, and Octopus needs to know you have an EV.

That's it. No apps to check, no daily price changes. Just set your car to charge after 00:30 and you're sorted. You can also run anything else during that window. Dishwasher, washing machine, immersion heater. Whatever uses electricity, it's all at the same cheap rate.

What does it actually cost to charge?

At 7.5p/kWh, a typical EV with a 60kWh battery costs about £4.50 for a full charge. That's roughly 200 miles of range. Compare that to a public rapid charger at 55p/kWh (£33 for the same charge) or a tank of petrol (£70+), and the savings are obvious.

Over a year, if you're doing 8,000 miles, you're looking at around £200-250 for home charging on Go. The same mileage in a petrol car costs £1,500+. Even compared to the Flexible tariff, Go saves you several hundred pounds a year on charging costs.

Try the EV charging calculator with your specific car and mileage.

The catch

The daytime rate on Go is higher than Flexible. So everything you use outside the off-peak window costs a bit more. For most EV owners, the cheap overnight charging more than makes up for it. If you barely charge at home (maybe you charge at work or use public chargers mostly), the higher daytime rate could wipe out your savings.

Do the maths before switching. If you're charging at home three or more times a week, Go almost certainly saves you money. If you charge at home once a fortnight, it probably doesn't.

Go vs Intelligent Go

Octopus also offers Intelligent Octopus Go, which is similar but gives Octopus some control over when your car charges. In return, the off-peak window is longer (23:30 to 05:30 instead of 00:30 to 05:30) and Octopus can also give you bonus off-peak slots during the day. It requires a compatible smart charger or car, but if you're eligible, it's generally the better deal.

Who is it for?

• EV owners who charge at home regularly. This is the primary use case and it works brilliantly.
• Anyone with high overnight electricity needs. Storage heaters, immersion heaters, anything you can schedule to run in the early hours.

Bottom line

If you own an EV and charge at home, Octopus Go is one of the best tariffs available in the UK. The savings on charging costs are significant, and the simplicity of a fixed off-peak window makes it easy to use. Just make sure you're doing enough overnight charging to offset the higher daytime rate.