E.ON Next has cut the off-peak rate on its Next Drive Smart tariff from 8p to 6.5p per kWh. That's one of the cheapest home charging rates available to UK drivers, and it means a full charge of a 60kWh battery now costs £3.90.
The new rate applies from 27 October 2026, and it's fixed for 12 months with no exit fees. The tariff is only available to UK households.
How the tariff works
Next Drive Smart uses smart charging. You plug in, and your car charges during the off-peak window between midnight and 6am at 6.5p per kWh. Anything you use outside that window, including "boost" charges when you need the car charged straight away, is billed at the peak rate of 34.042p per kWh.
To qualify, you need a smart meter that sends half-hourly readings and a compatible car or home charger. E.ON Next has an eligibility checker on its website.
There's also a simpler fixed version, Next Drive, which charges 8.5p per kWh for six hours every night. That cheap rate covers all the electricity your home uses in those hours, not just the car, and the only requirement E.ON lists is a smart meter with half-hourly readings.
What it costs to charge
At 6.5p per kWh, a full charge from empty costs £2.86 for a 44kWh battery, £3.90 for a 60kWh battery and £4.88 for a 75kWh battery. At the old 8p rate, the same 60kWh charge cost £4.80.
The difference against a standard tariff is much bigger. At the 26.322p per kWh national average rate E.ON uses for comparison, charging that 60kWh battery would cost around £15.80.
(Costs are for the energy stored in the battery. Some energy is lost while charging, so real costs are a little higher.)
Source: AI-generated image
How it compares
| Tariff | Off-peak EV rate | Cheap hours | Exit fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.ON Next Drive Smart | 6.5p/kWh | midnight to 6am | none |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | from 7.9p/kWh | 11.30pm to 5.30am, plus smart-charging slots | £50 |
| E.ON Next Drive | 8.5p/kWh | midnight to 6am | none |
(Rates correct at 28 October 2026. Standing charges vary and aren't included.)
Intelligent Octopus Go is the closest rival and works the same way: Octopus schedules up to six hours of smart charging every 24 hours. If a charging slot falls outside its normal cheap hours, your whole home gets the lower rate during that slot. At 6.5p, E.ON is now cheaper per unit, but Octopus's extra charging slots can suit drivers who need more flexibility.
What to watch out for
The peak rate is the main catch. At 34.042p per kWh, it's well above the 26.322p average standard rate, so this tariff works best for households that can move most of their electricity use into the night. If you work from home or use a lot of power during the day, work out what that daytime use would cost before switching.
Standing charges matter too. They aren't listed on E.ON's tariff page, and a cheap unit rate won't always mean the lowest bill if the standing charge is higher. Compare full quotes, not just the headline rate.
Who it suits
Next Drive Smart is a strong choice if you charge at home, have a compatible car or charger, and can keep most of your household use overnight. If your car or charger isn't compatible, Next Drive's 8.5p for six hours a night is the simpler alternative, and it still costs about a third of the standard rate.