Owning an electric vehicle changes your household energy usage more than almost any other appliance. Charging an EV can double or even triple your electricity consumption — but when you charge matters far more than how much you charge.
An energy tariff determines how much you pay, when electricity is cheap or expensive, and any fixed daily costs.
⚡ Why tariffs matter more for EV owners:
A tariff that works well for a non-EV household can be one of the worst options for an EV owner.
A typical EV charges for several hours at a time and can add thousands of kWh to annual household usage.
Charging at the wrong time can cost hundreds of pounds more per year.
A standard variable tariff (SVT) charges the same unit rate all day.
SVTs may be simple, but simplicity is expensive for EV owners.
Lock in single unit rate for 12-24 months. Predictable but no overnight discounts.
Best for: Low-mileage drivers, homes without smart chargers.
Ultra-low overnight rates (6p-10p/kWh). Reduce charging costs by 50-70%.
Requires: Smart meter, smart charger recommended.
Combine cheap overnight rates with reasonable export terms. Best for homes with solar.
Strategy: Daytime solar charging + overnight top-up.
Charge battery overnight at low rates, use stored power for EV/household.
Verdict: Wrong tariff makes battery uneconomical.
Charging 3,000 kWh per year (average EV usage)
The savings come almost entirely from timing, not reduced consumption.
Most EV tariffs require:
These allow:
Without smart infrastructure, EV tariffs lose much of their advantage.
EV owners typically use more electricity overall, which means:
Some EV tariffs offset cheap overnight rates with:
Comparisons must always look at total annual cost, not just the overnight rate.
EV owners frequently overpay by:
Owning an EV does not automatically mean cheap motoring — tariffs decide the outcome.
If you have solar panels as well as an EV, tariff selection becomes more nuanced.
✅ Solar can:
❌ But many EVs are:
A poorly chosen tariff can cancel out the benefits of solar or cheap EV charging.
⚡ A good strategy:
The wrong tariff can make a battery uneconomical.
UtilityKing compares EV tariffs using real charging behaviour, not average household assumptions.
Yes. Most EV tariffs require half-hourly data for accurate overnight charging rates.
Yes. Peak rates are often higher, so shifting usage matters significantly.
Usually not. They are designed for controlled charging with smart functionality.
Yes, especially with EV-specific tariffs — often 80-90% cheaper than rapid public charging.
Yes. Higher mileage increases the value of EV tariffs significantly.
Absolutely. EV tariffs work great for EVs alone — batteries just add extra optimisation.
In 2026, EV owners who stay on standard household tariffs are almost always overpaying. The best EV energy deals offer cheap overnight electricity, reward flexible charging, and reduce cost per mile dramatically.
See how much cheaper your EV charging could be • Smart meter ready • Solar & battery compatible