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Off-Peak EV Charging: How to Pay Less to Fill Your Car

Charging when electricity is cheapest can cut EV running costs significantly. How time-of-use rates work with smart scheduling.

WaterFuelAndSolarEnergy.com Editorial Team Updated January 2025 6 min read

If you’re on a time-of-use tariff, charging the car only in cheap overnight windows can cut per-kWh cost dramatically — often to a third or less of the peak rate. A smart charger makes this automatic.

How to set it up

  1. Confirm your plan has a meaningful off-peak window
  2. Note your off-peak rate and hours (often 10pm–6am)
  3. Configure the charger or car to start charging in that window
  4. Verify with a couple of bills that it’s actually happening
What if I forget to plug in overnight?
Smart chargers with scheduling plus a reminder catch most of the benefit automatically. Some apps alert you if the car isn’t plugged in when the cheap window starts.