Choosing an electricity tariff for an EV

Your starting point

Cheap charging is useful. A lower total household bill is the real goal. Use the same assumptions for every offer and verify the latest terms directly.

Begin with your driving pattern

Estimate the distance you actually drive and the share charged at home. Public charging and workplace charging should not be counted as home electricity. Car efficiency and charging losses affect demand, so compare an estimate with your charger readings once you have them.

Look at the size of the charging window

An attractive rate may last only a short overnight period. Check whether your car and charger can schedule charging and whether enough energy can be delivered in that window. A lower rate is of limited value when a significant part of charging falls outside it.

Price the rest of your home too

A useful EV tariff comparison combines charging with cooking, hot water, appliances and heating. A higher daytime rate can offset a charging discount. Keep the same household baseline when comparing offers so one plan is not favoured by a different assumption.

Build a worked scenario

For illustration, 200 kWh of charging at 10 cents costs €20; at 30 cents it costs €60. That is a €40 difference for the charging portion only. If another 500 kWh of household use becomes 8 cents more expensive, that adds €40 and removes the advantage. These are example rates, not advertised offers.

Plan for changes

Check your assumptions if your commute changes or a second EV joins the household. Review solar generation and home batteries separately. Avoid paying for additional equipment solely because a short-lived introductory tariff looks attractive.