How to Save Money Charging Your EV at Home

1. Switch to an EV-Specific Energy Tariff

This is the single biggest thing you can do to reduce your charging costs. Standard electricity tariffs charge around 24–28p per kWh. EV-specific tariffs offer dramatically cheaper rates during off-peak hours — typically overnight.

On Octopus Go at 7.5p/kWh, charging a 60kWh battery costs just £4.50 — compared to £15–17 on a standard tariff. Over a year, that's a saving of £400–£500 for the average driver.

2. Use Your Smart Charger's Scheduling Feature

Every modern home EV charger is a smart charger — meaning it can be programmed to only charge during your cheap-rate hours. This is essential if you're on a time-of-use tariff like Octopus Go.

Most chargers let you set a schedule via their app. Simply set your cheap-rate window (e.g. 00:30–04:30 for Octopus Go), plug in when you get home, and the charger will automatically wait until the cheap rate kicks in before starting.

3. Charge with Solar Power

If you have solar panels — or are considering installing them — you can charge your EV for free using surplus solar energy. The myenergi Zappi charger is specifically designed for this, with three charging modes:

• Fast Mode: Charges at full speed using grid power — fastest but most expensive
• Eco Mode: Uses surplus solar first, tops up with grid power if needed
• Eco+ Mode: Only charges when there's surplus solar — completely free charging

On a sunny summer day, a typical 4kW solar system can generate enough surplus energy to add 20–30 miles of range to your EV — completely free. Over a year, this could save an additional £200–£400 on top of your tariff savings.

4. Don't Charge to 100% Every Night

Most EV manufacturers recommend keeping your battery between 20% and 80% for daily use. Charging to 100% every night accelerates battery degradation and isn't necessary unless you have a long journey planned.

Most smart chargers let you set a charge limit — so you can tell it to stop at 80% automatically. This extends your battery's lifespan and means you're only paying for the energy you actually need.

5. Track Your Charging Costs

All smart chargers provide detailed energy usage data through their apps. Use this to monitor your charging costs, identify patterns, and optimise your schedule. Some chargers even provide cost-per-mile calculations, making it easy to compare against your old petrol costs.