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British Gas EV Power EV Tariff
British Gas EV Power: 9p/kWh off-peak (00:00–05:00) with optional EV Power+ Hive Charger upgrade dropping the rate to 7.9p/kWh. Smart meter required.
3.7 / 5
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Pros
- Wide availability — open to existing British Gas customers and switchers, all UK regions covered (largest big-six retail base)
- Whole-home off-peak rate at 9p/kWh — appliances on a schedule (washing machine, dishwasher, dryer) benefit alongside the EV
- Free smart meter installation for any British Gas customer who doesn't already have one
- Five-hour off-peak window is enough for a typical overnight 7kW session on most batteries (≈ 35 kWh added)
- Direct competition for IOG drivers without the Octopus charger compatibility list — any home charger works as long as you can schedule it
- EV Power+ tier with Hive Charger drops the off-peak rate to 7.9p/kWh and adds 25% home-energy savings
Cons
- 9p/kWh off-peak is materially more expensive than Intelligent Octopus Go's 5.49p/kWh (from 1 April 2026) — almost £80/year more on a 7,000-mile EV
- Five-hour window (00:00–05:00) is shorter than EDF GoElectric's seven hours and IOG's six-hour cap — owners of 80+ kWh batteries will struggle to complete a full charge in one session
- Power+ savings are gated behind buying a Hive Charger — that locks the customer into British Gas hardware
- Day rate is described by British Gas as 'a bit higher to balance costs' — the published peak rate isn't pinned in marketing material, so a postcode quote is essential
- Exit fees may apply mid-contract — read the personal projection before signing
- No dynamic bonus slots and no surplus-renewable signalling like Octopus's free-electricity sessions
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Off-peak rate (EV Power) | 9p/kWh |
| Off-peak rate (EV Power+) | 7.9p/kWh (with Hive EV Charger) |
| Off-peak window | 00:00–05:00 (5 hours, daily) |
| Day rate | Not published in marketing copy — postcode quote required |
| Whole-home off-peak | Yes |
| Eligible chargers | Any home charger or 3-pin cable — no compatibility restriction (Power+ requires Hive EV Charger specifically) |
| Smart meter required | Yes — SMETS2 or compatible SMETS1 |
| Smart meter cost | Free installation for British Gas customers |
| Direct Debit | Required |
| Online account | Required |
| Reported saving vs price cap | ~£330/year for a 7,000-mile EV (British Gas modelling) |
| Tariff version referenced | EV Power May27 (correct as of 01/04/2026) |