The short answer#
Off-peak charging is the simplest way to cut the cost of running an EV: charge it at night, when electricity is cheapest, instead of during the evening peak.
The saving comes from a time-of-use tariff, where the price per kilowatt-hour changes through the day. For a car that uses a few hundred kilowatt-hours a month, the difference between peak and off-peak can be worth hundreds of dollars a year.
How time-of-use tariffs work#
A time-of-use tariff splits the day into price bands:
- Peak — evening, when demand is highest and electricity is dearest.
- Shoulder — mid-priced periods.
- Off-peak — overnight, and sometimes a daytime solar window, when electricity is cheapest.
Charging in the off-peak window means the car's entire charge is billed at the low rate. The exact times and rates vary by retailer and plan, so check your own plan rather than assuming a fixed window.
What the saving looks like#
Take a car that uses 15 kWh per 100 km and drives 20,000 km a year — about 3,000 kWh a year.
- At a 30c/kWh average rate, that is about $900 a year.
- At a 12c/kWh off-peak rate, it is about $360 a year.
- At a 45c/kWh peak rate, it is about $1,350 a year.
These are illustrative figures, not quotes, and they ignore charging losses and plan fees. The point is the direction: the rate you charge at moves the annual cost by a lot, so scheduling matters.
How to schedule charging#
There are two places to set the schedule:
In the car#
Most EVs let you set a charging window. The car waits until the off-peak period and then charges. This works with any charger.
In the charger#
Many smart chargers have their own scheduling in the app. This can be easier to manage across multiple cars and can tie into a time-of-use tariff or a solar-following mode.
Set one, or both, but make sure they do not conflict. After setting a schedule, confirm a session actually starts at the intended time — a misconfigured schedule is an easy way to charge at peak by mistake.
Off-peak vs solar#
If you are home during the day and have surplus solar, charging from solar is even cheaper than off-peak, because the energy is free at the point of use. A solar-aware charger can follow the sun, or you can simply schedule charging for the middle of the day.
For most commuters, the overnight window is more convenient — the car is home and the rate is cheap. Solar suits those who are home during the day. See charging an EV with solar for the comparison.
Check the whole plan#
A standout off-peak rate can hide a higher peak rate or a larger daily supply charge. Because the car is only one load among many in the home, the plan has to work for the whole house, not just the car.
To compare:
- Estimate your EV's monthly energy use.
- Estimate your home's other usage and when it happens.
- Apply the peak, shoulder and off-peak rates.
- Add the supply charge.
- Compare the total, not the off-peak number alone.
Our EV charging tariffs guide walks through the comparison in detail.
What you need#
- a time-of-use or EV tariff with a genuine off-peak window
- a car or charger with scheduling
- a dedicated charger, which is the safer way to charge nightly
A portable charger on a standard socket can also be scheduled through the car, but the slow rate and the continuous load make a dedicated charger the better daily setup.
Bottom line#
Off-peak charging is the cheapest convenient way to run an EV — schedule the charge for the overnight window and the saving follows. Just check the whole tariff, set the schedule correctly, and confirm it is working. The car is a big enough load that the timing genuinely changes the bill.
For the tariff side, see EV charging tariffs and the home charging guide.
Straight answers
Questions people ask about this
Is it cheaper to charge an EV off-peak?
Usually, if you are on a time-of-use tariff with a genuine overnight discount. Charging at the off-peak rate can be much cheaper than the evening peak rate. But check the whole plan: a low overnight rate can come with a higher daytime rate or supply charge that reduces the saving.
How do I set my EV to charge at night?
You can schedule charging in the car's settings, in the charger's app, or both. Set the charge window to the off-peak period, and the car will wait and start automatically. Check that the schedule is actually working by confirming a session starts at the right time.
What time is off-peak for EV charging?
Off-peak times vary by retailer and tariff, but they are often overnight, roughly from late evening to early morning. Some plans also have a cheaper daytime or solar window. Check your plan's specific times, because they are not the same across retailers.
Is it better to charge from solar than off-peak?
If you are home during the day and have surplus solar, charging from solar can be even cheaper than off-peak, because you avoid buying the energy at all. A smart charger or timer can charge during the solar window. Otherwise, off-peak is the next cheapest option.
Sources and further reading
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