Comparison · 2 picks
E.ON Drive vs British Gas EV Power UK 2026
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For UK EV households with E.ON or British Gas as their existing electricity supplier, smart EV tariffs from the same supplier offer the convenience of bundled gas + electric + EV without switching. This comparison covers the practical differences between E.ON Next Drive and British Gas EV Power in 2026, and where each is the right choice.
At a glance
All 2 options side by side.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | E.ON Next Drive is the standout E.ON option for existing E.ON customers wanting EV smart charging. | British Gas EV Power is the practical choice for existing British Gas customers wanting EV smart charging without switching supplier. |
| Review | Read review → | Read review → |
| Buy |
The picks in detail
E.ON Energy E.ON Next Drive
Bottom line. E.ON Next Drive is the standout E.ON option for existing E.ON customers wanting EV smart charging. Clean integration with E.ON's broader gas + electric account. Slightly more expensive off-peak than Octopus Intelligent Go but the bundling and customer experience advantages make it competitive for existing E.ON households.
Pros
- 8p/kWh off-peak rate is competitive with IOG and undercuts most other UK smart EV tariffs
- Whole-home off-peak applies - your dishwasher, dryer, and heat pump on a schedule all benefit, not just the EV
- No charger compatibility list - works with ANY home charger or even a 3-pin cable, unlike IOG's restricted list
- Six-hour off-peak window (00:00–06:00) is comfortably long for typical overnight charging on a 7kW unit
- One-year fixed contract - rate locked in regardless of wholesale moves through the term
- No exit fees - switch out if your circumstances change
Cons
- No dynamic bonus-slot system - what you see is what you get; no daytime cheap windows when the grid has surplus renewable capacity
- Day rate (~26p/kWh) is mid-range - households with high daytime usage may pay more on the day side than they save on the EV side
- Fixed-window only - drivers who can't fit charging inside 00:00–06:00 (large batteries, multiple EVs) will run sessions into the peak rate
- Standing charge varies by region and isn't pinned in marketing copy - pull a postcode quote before committing
- 1-year fixed term means you can't capitalise on falling rates mid-term (though no-exit-fee mitigates this)
British Gas British Gas EV Power
Bottom line. British Gas EV Power is the practical choice for existing British Gas customers wanting EV smart charging without switching supplier. Off-peak rates are meaningfully higher than Octopus Intelligent Go, but the convenience of staying with British Gas matters to many UK households.
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 more expensive than Intelligent Octopus Go's 8p/kWh and EDF GoElectric's 6.99p/kWh (as of July 2026) - around £30/year more than IOG 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
How do the off-peak rates compare?
The headline comparison for UK EV households in 2026:
- E.ON Next Drive off-peak: 9p/kWh during 00:00-06:00 (as of July 2026).
- British Gas EV Power off-peak: 9p/kWh during 00:00-05:00 (as of July 2026).
- Octopus Intelligent Go off-peak (for comparison): 8p/kWh during 23:30-05:30 + flexible additional dispatches.
For a typical UK EV household charging ~250 kWh per month overnight, the per-kWh differences scale up:
- E.ON Next Drive: ~£270 per year cheap-rate cost
- British Gas EV Power: ~£270 per year cheap-rate cost
- Octopus Intelligent Go: ~£240 per year cheap-rate cost
Octopus is around £30/year cheaper than E.ON or British Gas on cheap-rate charging (as of July 2026) - a much narrower gap than earlier in 2026. For households who value supplier bundling and don't want to switch, E.ON or British Gas is acceptable.
What's the standing charge picture?
Beyond per-kWh rates, standing charges affect total annual cost. Exact figures vary by supplier and region - the Ofgem cap average for electricity is 57.19p/day from 1 July 2026 (about £209/year before any usage), and EV tariffs typically sit within a few pence per day of that benchmark. Because standing charges are broadly similar across these suppliers, the per-kWh differential drives the real difference: roughly £30/year between Octopus Intelligent Go (8p) and E.ON/British Gas (9p) on typical EV charging volumes. Net annual saving from switching to Octopus: modest as of July 2026. The decision depends on household priorities.
What about hardware compatibility?
Smart EV tariff requires an OCPP-compatible smart EV charger. All three tariffs support OCPP 1.6J:
- E.ON Next Drive: Compatible with most modern UK smart chargers (Ohme, Wallbox, Tesla Universal, Hypervolt, myenergi, Indra, Sync EV, Easee). Easee is E.ON's recommended charger.
- British Gas EV Power: Compatible with most modern UK smart chargers. Hypervolt has a strong British Gas integration; Wallbox and Ohme also work cleanly.
- Octopus Intelligent Go (for comparison): Has the broadest UK charger compatibility list - 25+ supported chargers including all the main brands plus some smaller UK options.
For households without an existing smart charger, all three tariffs work with the same modern charger options. The recommended-charger lists vary slightly but practical functionality is similar.
Who should choose which?
Pick E.ON Next Drive
Existing E.ON customers
Pick British Gas EV Power
Existing British Gas customers
Should you switch to Octopus instead?
For UK EV households not already with E.ON or British Gas, Octopus Intelligent Go offers ~£100-£250/year savings. For existing E.ON or British Gas customers, the calculation is:
- Worth switching to Octopus if: You charge 200+ kWh per month at off-peak (saves £100+/year via cheaper kWh), or you find the existing supplier's customer service consistently frustrating.
- Not worth switching if: You charge 150 kWh or less per month at off-peak (savings are modest, £40-£80/year), or you specifically value the bundled account convenience.
Octopus's switching process is straightforward (no install of new hardware required; takes 2-3 weeks). For most UK EV households charging significantly, switching to Octopus is the right financial choice.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Can I get E.ON Next Drive without an EV?
Q02Do these tariffs work with Wallbox chargers?
Q03Can I switch from E.ON Next Drive to Octopus Intelligent Go?
Q04Does British Gas have any V2G tariff equivalent to Octopus Flux?
Q05What about the new entrant UK suppliers (E (Gas & Electricity), So Energy, etc.)?
Q06Are there any bonuses for staying with E.ON or British Gas?
The bottom line
For UK EV households choosing between E.ON Next Drive and British Gas EV Power in 2026, the decision is straightforward: stay with your existing supplier for bundled account convenience, OR switch to Octopus Intelligent Go or EDF GoElectric for cheaper EV charging - though as of July 2026 the gap is modest (around £30/year at typical mileage vs Octopus).
E.ON Next Drive and British Gas EV Power both sit at 9p/kWh off-peak (as of July 2026); both cost more than Octopus Intelligent Go (8p/kWh) and EDF GoElectric (6.99p/kWh). For supplier-switching-comfortable households, Octopus is the right financial choice. For households valuing bundled account convenience, E.ON or British Gas are both acceptable.
For the Octopus Intelligent Go review, see our IO Go review. For broader UK EV tariff context, see our IO Go vs Flux comparison and home EV charger buying guide. Energy supplier comparison via USwitch; UK gas + electricity regulation via Ofgem.