Best Electricity Supplier for Electric Car Owners in the UK (2025)
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Choosing the right electricity supplier as an electric car owner can save you hundreds of pounds annually on charging costs. With EV salary sacrifice schemes reducing vehicle costs by 20-50% through the current 3% Benefit-in-Kind rate, optimising your home charging tariff becomes even more important for maximising your total savings.
This comprehensive guide explores the best electricity suppliers for electric car owners in 2025, focusing on how these tariffs complement salary sacrifice electric car arrangements and home charging solutions.
Why Electric Car Owners Need Specialist Energy Tariffs
Standard electricity tariffs charge around 25-27p per kWh, making home charging expensive for daily use. Specialist EV tariffs offer rates as low as 6.7p per kWh during off-peak hours, representing savings of up to 70% compared to standard rates.
For electric car scheme participants who've already reduced their vehicle costs through salary sacrifice, choosing the right electricity supplier becomes crucial for maximising ongoing savings. A typical 60kWh electric car costs £15-16 to charge fully on standard rates, but just £4-5 on the best EV tariffs.
Understanding EV Tariff Types
Dual-Rate Tariffs offer cheaper electricity during specific overnight hours (typically 7 hours) when grid demand is low. These work perfectly for electric car owners who can schedule charging overnight.
Smart Charging Tariffs go further by automatically optimising charging times throughout the day based on grid demand and renewable energy availability. Your car charges when electricity is cheapest and greenest.
Dynamic Tariffs offer half-hourly pricing that fluctuates with wholesale electricity costs, potentially delivering even greater savings for flexible users.
Top 5 Electricity Suppliers for Electric Car Owners
1. OVO Energy - Charge Anytime
Best for: Maximum flexibility and low electricity users
EV charging rate: 7p/kWh anytime
Peak rate: Standard tariff rates apply for other appliances
Key benefit: Charge your EV at 7p/kWh 24/7 using smart technology
OVO's Charge Anytime represents the most flexible EV charging solution available. Instead of restricting cheap charging to specific hours, the smart system automatically charges your car when grid demand is lowest, regardless of time.
This tariff works exceptionally well for electric car salary sacrifice participants who want minimal involvement in managing their charging schedule. Simply plug in whenever convenient, and OVO handles the rest.
Customer satisfaction: 88% rating makes OVO one of the most trusted suppliers.
2. E.ON Next - Next Drive Fixed V9
Best for: Cheapest overnight rates with predictable charging windows
EV charging rate: 6.7p/kWh (00:00-07:00)
Peak rate: 28.89p/kWh
Standing charge: 48.03p/day
Key benefit: Cheapest overnight rate available with 7-hour charging window
E.ON Next offers the lowest overnight EV charging rate in the UK. The seven-hour charging window provides ample time for most electric cars to charge fully overnight, making it ideal for company electric car scheme participants with predictable routines.
Price guarantee: Fixed rates for 12 months provide cost certainty.
3. Octopus Energy - Intelligent Go
Best for: Smart charging and guaranteed overnight charging.
EV charging rate: 7p/kWh (23:30-05:30 plus smart charging slots)
Peak rate: 26.43p/kWh
Standing charge: 44.32p/day
Key benefit: Six hours guaranteed overnight plus flexible smart charging
Octopus Intelligent Go combines guaranteed overnight charging with additional smart charging throughout the day. The system automatically finds the cheapest times to charge your car, perfect for electric car scheme UK participants wanting optimised savings.
Outstanding service: 95% customer satisfaction rating - the highest in the industry.
4. Scottish Power - EV Optimise
Best for: All-day cheap charging for heavy users
EV charging rate: 10p/kWh (24/7 for EV charging)
Peak rate: Standard rates for other appliances
Key benefit: Consistent low rate for EV charging anytime
Scottish Power's unique approach offers a flat 10p/kWh rate for EV charging regardless of time. This works well for electric car owners who can't predict their charging schedule or need to charge during daytime hours.
While the EV rate is higher than peak overnight deals, the 24/7 availability provides excellent value for flexible charging needs.
5. British Gas - Electric Driver
Best for: Budget-conscious families with multiple energy needs
EV charging rate: 7.9p/kWh (00:00-05:00)
Peak rate: 27.1p/kWh
Standing charge: 55.69p/day
Key benefit: Competitive rates with established supplier reliability
British Gas offers a solid EV tariff with reasonable rates across peak and off-peak periods. The five-hour overnight window suits most charging needs, while the moderate peak rate keeps overall energy costs manageable.
Trusted brand: Long-established supplier with comprehensive customer support.
How The Electric Car Scheme Maximises Your Savings
Salary Sacrifice Electric Cars
Through The Electric Car Scheme, employees save 20-50% on electric vehicles by paying through pre-tax salary. With the current 3% Benefit-in-Kind rate for 2025/26, this creates substantial monthly savings compared to traditional car financing.
Bundled Home Charger Installation
The Electric Car Scheme can include home charger installation as part of your salary sacrifice package. This means you can install a smart charger without upfront costs, enabling immediate access to cheap overnight charging rates.
Installation benefits through salary sacrifice:
No upfront charger purchase costs
Professional installation included
Smart charging capabilities for optimised tariffs
Warranty and support covered
The Charge Scheme - Revolutionary Charging Savings
The Charge Scheme allows employees to salary sacrifice their charging costs, creating additional savings on top of vehicle savings:
Home charging: Save 20-50% on installation and ongoing charging costs Workplace charging: Reduce charging expenses through pre-tax salary Public charging: Access discounted rates at thousands of charging points nationwide
Universal compatibility: The Charge Scheme works with any existing salary sacrifice provider, not just The Electric Car Scheme participants.
Calculating Your Total EV Savings
Example: Tesla Model 3 Long Range Owner
Vehicle through salary sacrifice: £350/month (reduced from £584 gross cost) Home charging (OVO Charge Anytime): £162/year for 10,000 miles Public charging savings (The Charge Scheme): 20-50% reduction on away-from-home charging
Total annual savings compared to standard purchase/tariff:
Vehicle financing: £2,808 salary sacrifice savings
Home charging: £347 annual savings vs standard tariff
Combined savings: £3,155+ annually
Example: Nissan Leaf Family
Vehicle through salary sacrifice: £220/month for Nissan EV Home charging (E.ON Next Drive): £8,000 miles annually = £140 Home charger installation: Included in salary sacrifice package
Total savings:
Avoided traditional financing: £1,900+ annually
Charging vs petrol equivalent: £1,200+ annually
Combined savings: £3,100+ annually
Choosing the Right Supplier for Your Needs
Heavy Daily Drivers (20,000+ miles annually)
Recommended: Scottish Power EV Optimise or OVO Charge Anytime Why: Consistent low rates without time restrictions accommodate frequent charging needs.
Predictable Commuters
Recommended: E.ON Next Drive Fixed V9 Why: Cheapest overnight rates with sufficient charging window for daily top-ups.
Tech-Savvy Optimisers
Recommended: Octopus Intelligent Go Why: Smart charging maximises savings while excellent customer service provides peace of mind.
Budget-Conscious Families
Recommended: British Gas Electric Driver Why: Balanced peak/off-peak rates keep overall energy costs manageable.
Setting Up Your EV Tariff
Requirements for Most EV Tariffs
Smart meter: Essential for time-of-use billing
Compatible EV or charger: Required for smart charging tariffs
Home charging capability: Off-street parking or workplace charging access
Direct debit: Most suppliers require automatic payments
Making the Switch
Compare tariffs using your actual driving patterns and current electricity usage
Check compatibility with your electric car and charging setup
Calculate total costs including standing charges and peak rates
Consider bundling with The Electric Car Scheme for maximum savings
Switch online - most suppliers complete transfers within 21 days
Beyond Basic Tariffs - Advanced Savings
Solar Panel Integration
If you have solar panels, several suppliers offer tariffs that prioritise solar-generated electricity for EV charging. This can reduce charging costs to virtually zero during sunny periods.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Technology
Octopus Energy's Power Pack offers free EV charging in exchange for allowing your car's battery to support the grid during peak demand periods.
Time-of-Use Optimisation
Smart chargers can automatically schedule charging during the cheapest periods, even on basic dual-rate tariffs. Home EV charger installation through salary sacrifice makes accessing these features affordable.
Workplace Charging Considerations
Many electric car scheme participants have access to workplace charging. When comparing suppliers, consider:
Free workplace charging reduces reliance on home tariffs
Mixed charging patterns may favour flexible tariffs like OVO Charge Anytime
The Charge Scheme provides savings on workplace charging through salary sacrifice
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Peak Rate Shock
EV tariffs often have higher peak rates than standard tariffs. Calculate your total electricity costs, not just EV charging costs, before switching.
Contract Terms
Some suppliers impose exit fees or minimum contract periods. Check terms carefully, especially if you're considering changing vehicles through salary sacrifice schemes.
Compatibility Issues
Smart charging features require compatible vehicles or chargers. Verify compatibility before signing up to avoid losing key benefits.
British Summer Time Adjustments
Some suppliers adjust charging hours during British Summer Time. Confirm your charging windows remain optimal year-round.
The Future of EV Charging Tariffs
Dynamic Pricing Growth
More suppliers are introducing half-hourly pricing that reflects wholesale electricity costs. This trend will likely accelerate as smart meter adoption increases.
Integration with Renewables
As renewable energy generation grows, tariffs will increasingly reward charging when wind and solar output is high, creating additional savings opportunities.
Vehicle-to-Grid Expansion
V2G technology will become more mainstream, potentially allowing EV owners to earn money by supporting grid stability.
Maximising Your Electric Car Investment
Choosing the right electricity supplier represents just one element of optimising your electric car costs. When combined with The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice benefits, smart charging tariffs, and innovative solutions like The Charge Scheme, electric car ownership becomes significantly more affordable than traditional vehicle ownership.
The key lies in taking a holistic approach: reduce your vehicle costs through salary sacrifice, minimise charging expenses through specialist tariffs, and leverage technology to optimise when and where you charge.
For most electric car owners, the combination of salary sacrifice vehicle savings and smart EV tariffs delivers total cost reductions of £3,000+ annually compared to traditional car ownership and standard electricity tariffs.
Ready to maximise your electric car savings? Explore The Electric Car Scheme to reduce your vehicle costs by 20-50% through salary sacrifice, while The Charge Scheme ensures you're paying the lowest possible rates for all your charging needs.
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Last updated: 15/09/2025
Our pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
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