Tariff + charger guide · Updated 8 May 2026
Octopus Intelligent Go + Ohme ePod — UK's Cheapest EV Charging Pairing
If you want the lowest possible cost to charge an EV at home in 2026, the answer is Octopus Intelligent Go (~7 p/kWh off-peak) paired with an Ohme ePod (£299 net after the £500 OZEV grant). This guide is the setup walk-through, real running cost analysis, and comparison to every alternative.
Why this combination wins
Octopus Intelligent Go is currently the cheapest mainstream UK smart EV tariff. It uses dynamic half-hourly pricing — when grid demand is low (typically 23:30–05:30 with extra slots whenever wind generation is high), the rate drops to around 7 p/kWh. Standard rates outside off-peak are ~28–30 p/kWh.
The Ohme ePod is the only OZEV-approved charger with native, fully-dynamic Intelligent Go integration. It connects to Octopus's API and automatically schedules charging during the cheapest half-hour slots — including the additional bonus slots that appear dynamically when renewables are abundant. Other OZEV-approved chargers can use Octopus Go (legacy 4-hour off-peak) but only Ohme captures the dynamic-slot upside.
The £100/year edge over alternatives
Real-world data from Octopus customers in 2025 shows Ohme + Intelligent Go users average ~25% more off-peak energy capture than Pod Point or BP Pulse users on the same tariff with manual schedules. For a 12,000-mile-per-year EV driver, that's about £80–£120 extra savings per year. Over 5 years of charger ownership, that's £400–£600 — which more than offsets the £50 price premium of the Ohme ePod over the cheapest alternatives, and dwarfs the £50 saving over a Pod Point.
Setup walk-through (~30 minutes total)
Step 1 — Install the Ohme ePod
Through Pod Point Direct or any OZEV-accredited installer. £799 fitted, £299 net after OZEV grant. See our full Ohme ePod review for details.
Step 2 — Switch to Octopus Energy
Sign up at octopus.energy. Switching takes 14–21 days. You can stay on whatever tariff during the switch and request Intelligent Go after the account is set up.
Step 3 — Add your EV and charger to your Octopus account
In the Octopus app, go to Smart EV → Add vehicle. Enter your EV's reg, then add the Ohme ePod by linking your Ohme account. Octopus uses these credentials to schedule your charging.
Step 4 — Request Intelligent Go tariff
Octopus dashboard → Tariffs → Smart EV options → request Intelligent Go. Approval is usually instant once your EV+charger are linked.
Step 5 — Set your daily charge target
In the Ohme app, set your typical "ready by" time (e.g., 07:00 weekdays) and target charge level (e.g., 80%). Ohme + Octopus will schedule the cheapest slots automatically — you don't need to do anything else.
Real running costs — worked examples
| Scenario | Annual cost | vs alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Intelligent Go + Ohme (12,000 mi) | £240 | baseline |
| Octopus Go + Pod Point Solo 3 (manual schedule) | £330 | +£90/year |
| EDF GoElectric + any approved charger | £380 | +£140/year |
| OVO Charge Anytime + any approved charger | £260 | +£20/year |
| British Gas EV Tariff (4-hour off-peak) | £420 | +£180/year |
| Standard tariff (no smart EV add-on) | £980 | +£740/year |
| Public rapid only (50 p/kWh) | £1,715 | +£1,475/year |
Octopus Intelligent Go + Ohme ePod is the single cheapest mainstream combination. OVO Charge Anytime is close behind and worth considering if you can't get on Intelligent Go for any reason (e.g., you're not in a smart-meter eligible area).
OZEV grant compatibility
Both the Ohme ePod and Octopus Energy account work fully with the OZEV £500 chargepoint grant. The grant subsidises the charger purchase and installation; Octopus is just your energy supplier — completely separate. You can switch energy supplier at any time before, during, or after grant approval without affecting eligibility.
Eligibility for the £500 grant requires you to be a renter, flat owner, leaseholder, on-street parking household, or landlord. Run the eligibility checker to confirm which scheme applies.