What is the British Gas EV tariff and who is it for?
The British Gas EV tariff is a set of home energy plans built around cheap overnight electricity, aimed at people who charge an electric car at home. Pay a low rate while you sleep, pay a more normal rate in the day, and let the car do the drinking at night.
It sounds simple, and mostly it is. But the numbers only work if your habits match the tariff, which is where plenty of people trip up. Staying on a standard plan after buying an electric car is the Do-Nothing Default, and it can cost you. So here is what British Gas says about its own plans, read on its website on 3 November 2026. Everything below about the plans is British Gas’s own information, not ours, and prices can change.
Key takeaways
- British Gas lists an off-peak rate of 9.5p per kWh between 12am and 5am on its EV Power plan.
- You need an electric car you charge at home, a smart electricity meter and a Direct Debit.
- Daytime rates are higher than the off-peak rate, so charging in the day can cost more.
- Your own bill depends on your car, your charging habits and how else you use electricity.
How does the British Gas EV tariff work?
The British Gas EV tariff works by splitting the day into a cheap window and everything else. British Gas says that on EV Power you pay 9.5p per kWh between 12am and 5am every day (it says its prices were accurate for August 2026), which it describes as 35 hours of off-peak electricity a week on all your usage, not just car charging.
The rest of the day, the rate is higher. British Gas says it keeps the daytime rate close to its normal electricity rates, so check the current daytime rate before you sign, not only the headline overnight one.
It also says the plan works with any electric car or home charger, and that you can schedule charging with your charger or your car’s app. Nothing stops you running a washing machine or dishwasher in the cheap window as well.
Which British Gas EV tariff options are there?
British Gas lists several EV related plans, and they suit different homes. Here is how it describes each one.
EV Power is the main plan, with the overnight rate above and no restriction on which car or charger you use.
Hive Power+ is a charging option rather than a full tariff. British Gas says it gives 25% off all EV charging in Power+ mode, works with any British Gas electricity tariff, and needs a Hive compatible charger and a smart meter in credit mode. It says that combined with EV Power, the equivalent is 7.125p per kWh.
PeakSave Super Sunday is a fixed plan with half price electricity from 9am to 5pm every Sunday, fixed for a year, and British Gas says it is best for low mileage drivers.
Charge Power is for homes with solar panels and a home battery. British Gas says it offers half price electricity from 12am to 5am every night, and you still pay the full daily standing charge.
What do you need to get the British Gas EV tariff?
You need three things, according to British Gas. First, an electric car you charge at home, and it says it may ask you to prove that. Second, a smart electricity meter, which it says it will fit for free if you do not have one. Third, you need to pay by Direct Debit.
New customers join on a standard variable tariff first. Once the account is set up and the smart meter is connected, British Gas says it switches you onto the EV tariff automatically. Existing customers can change plan in their online account.
That first step is worth noticing. For a while you may be paying standard variable rates, so ask when the switch will happen and what you pay until then.
Is the British Gas EV tariff worth it for you?
It depends on when and how much you charge. The overnight rate only helps if most of your charging happens between 12am and 5am. If you mostly top up in the daytime, a higher daytime rate works against you.
British Gas says its quotes assume an electric car owner charges about three times a week off peak and twice a fortnight at peak times, using 10 kWh each time, and that 46% of the total electricity you use is off peak. It also says your actual costs could differ depending on your car, your charging habits and how else you use electricity.
For a yardstick, Ofgem’s price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 puts the average electricity unit rate at 26.32p per kWh, with a standing charge of 54.83p a day, for a standard variable tariff paid by Direct Debit. The government removed VAT from household electricity bills in Great Britain from 1 October 2026, and the Autumn Budget extended this to July 2027, so check whether any rate you compare includes VAT. You can see the figures on Ofgem’s price cap page.
So treat any quote as an estimate. Compare it with what you pay now, and with other suppliers’ EV plans, using your own mileage and your own habits. Our EV energy tariffs guide explains how to run that comparison, and our public EV charging cost guide shows what you would pay away from home.
If you are still installing a charger, our EV charger grant guide explains what help exists. You can read British Gas’s own description on its EV tariff page.
Frequently asked questions about the British Gas EV tariff
- How much is the British Gas EV tariff?
- British Gas lists 9.5p per kWh between 12am and 5am on EV Power. Daytime rates are higher and prices can change, so check the live page for current figures.
- Do I need a smart meter for the British Gas EV tariff?
- Yes. British Gas says you need a smart electricity meter and that it will fit one for free if you do not have one.
- Can I use the British Gas EV tariff with any electric car?
- British Gas says EV Power works with any electric car or home charger. Hive Power+ needs a Hive compatible charger.
- Do I have to own an electric car to get the British Gas EV tariff?
- British Gas says you need an electric car that you charge at home and that it may ask you to prove it.
- Is the British Gas EV tariff fixed?
- British Gas describes PeakSave Super Sunday as fixed for a year. Check whether the plan you are quoted is fixed, and for how long.
