Not sure? Check your region with your postcode.
Work out your own costs
Uses Octopus Energy's current rates in London for paying by Direct Debit. The starting figures are Octopus Energy's own example: 7,000 miles a year at the UK average of 0.301 kWh per mile.
An illustration, not a quote. It uses unit rates and standing charges only, assumes your smart charging stays within 6 hours a day as Octopus Energy's own example does, and can't predict future prices. Intelligent Octopus Go rates are fixed for 12 months; Flexible Octopus prices change every three months.
Charging 7,000 miles a year, by region
Yearly cost of charging at 0.301 kWh per mile, using Octopus Energy's current rates for paying by Direct Debit. The cheap rate on Intelligent Octopus Go is 7.6p in every region; the day rate varies. At the price cap rate (26.3p, Great Britain average) the same charging costs about £555.
| Region | Intelligent Octopus Go | Flexible Octopus | Day rate on Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern England | £160 | £561 | 37.5p |
| East Midlands | £160 | £534 | 35.6p |
| London | £160 | £560 | 35.9p |
| North Wales and Merseyside | £160 | £587 | 38.8p |
| West Midlands | £160 | £539 | 35.3p |
| North East | £160 | £536 | 35.6p |
| North West | £160 | £558 | 36.9p |
| Southern | £160 | £558 | 36.9p |
| South East | £160 | £566 | 37.7p |
| South Wales | £160 | £559 | 37.1p |
| South West | £160 | £560 | 37.6p |
| Yorkshire | £160 | £539 | 35.0p |
| South Scotland | £160 | £550 | 36.4p |
| North Scotland | £160 | £555 | 37.6p |
Why the rest of your bill matters
On Intelligent Octopus Go, your whole home gets the cheap rate from 11:30pm to 5:30am, and your first 6 hours of smart charging each day are cheap too, whenever they happen. Everything else pays the day rate, which is 35.9p per kWh in London, higher than Flexible Octopus at 26.6p.
So the more you drive and charge at home, the more you save. If you drive very little and use most of your electricity during the day, the higher day rate can cancel out the saving. The calculator above shows both sides.
Read more about Intelligent Octopus Go and Flexible Octopus, or take the quiz.
How to switch to Intelligent Octopus Go
- Join Octopus Energy with our link. Choose Flexible Octopus when you sign up: it has no exit fees. You get £50 credit once you're on supply and your first Direct Debit is paid, which Octopus Energy says typically takes around four weeks.
- Sign up for Intelligent Octopus Go. First check that your car or charger is supported on Octopus Energy's Intelligent Octopus Go page. Once you're on supply and your smart meter is sending half-hourly readings, sign up and connect your car or charger in the Octopus app.
This is a referral link: we also get £50, which keeps this site free. Plunge Radar is independent and not affiliated with Octopus Energy.
Switching later, or on another device?
Paste it into your browser when you're ready to join. It's the same referral link as the buttons above.
Charging an electric car at home: common questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
It depends on your tariff and how far you drive. Octopus Energy's own example: driving 7,000 miles a year at the UK average of 0.301 kWh per mile, smart charging at Intelligent Octopus Go's 7.6p per kWh, costs about £160 a year. On Flexible Octopus in London, at 26.6p per kWh, the same charging costs about £560.
What counts as the cheap rate on Intelligent Octopus Go?
Your whole home gets the cheap rate from 11:30pm to 5:30am every night. Your first 6 hours of smart charging each day are also billed at the cheap rate, whenever Octopus Energy schedules them. Bump charges and charging Octopus Energy hasn't scheduled are billed at the day rate.
Does Intelligent Octopus Go work with my car?
Octopus Energy says it works with over 280 cars and selected chargers. Check yours on its Intelligent Octopus Go page. If your car or charger isn't supported, Octopus Energy suggests its Octopus Go tariff instead.
I don't have a home charger. Can I still use it?
You need a compatible car or charging system. Octopus Energy says its engineers can install a charger for you.
Does it cover charging away from home?
No. Intelligent Octopus Go only works for home charging. Octopus Energy says customers get 8% off public charging on its Electroverse network.
Is there an exit fee?
Yes. Intelligent Octopus Go has fixed rates for 12 months and a £50 exit fee if you change tariff or supplier early. Flexible Octopus has no exit fee.
Do I have to be an Octopus Energy customer first?
Yes. Agile Octopus, Intelligent Octopus Go and Octopus Tracker are only open to Octopus Energy customers. Join Octopus Energy first, usually on Flexible Octopus, then change tariff in your online account or app once your supply has moved over.
How does the £50 referral credit work?
When you join Octopus Energy through a referral link, you and the person who referred you each get £50 account credit. Octopus Energy pays it once you are on supply and your first Direct Debit has been taken, which usually takes about four weeks. Octopus Energy sets the terms and can change them.
I joined Octopus Energy without a link. Can I still get the credit?
Octopus Energy says that if you joined directly on its website and forgot to use a referral link, you can contact them with the referral code. Ours is silk-snail-210. Sign-ups through comparison sites don't qualify.
Compare other Octopus Energy tariffs
- Agile OctopusPrice changes every half-hour. Best if you can use power at cheap times.
- Intelligent Octopus GoCheap overnight electricity and smart charging for electric car owners.
- Octopus TrackerOne price a day that follows the wholesale market. Use less on pricey days.
- Flexible OctopusA standard variable tariff with no exit fees. No smart meter needed.