The greatest advantage of buying an electric vehicle is the reduced cost if you charge your vehicle at home. With that in mind, having an EV can dramatically increase your household electricity consumption.

This means that it is important to select an electricity plan which allows for the best value EV charging.

The main thing separating different types of electricity plans is the rates they have at different times of the day.

  • 24hr: These have one single electricity rate for the entire day

  • Day/Night: These have a cheaper rate for electricity at night than during the day

  • Smart: The plans can have a mix of Day/Peak/Night/EV rates for different times during the day.

Best EV Chargers in Ireland 2024

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When should you charge an EV?

The best time of the day to charge an electric vehicle is at night. This is because you can get an electricity plan which has cheaper rates for night time.

Ideally, the best plans are those specified as EV or Night Boost smart plans which offer a special rate during the early morning hours which has been further discounted.

Selecting an EV Electricity Plan

The most important things to consider when selecting an electricity plan for your electric vehicle charging needs are:

Electricity Plans with a dedicated EV or Night Boost Tariff will offer extremely discounted electricity in the very early hours of the morning. These can be as little as 25% of the price of ordinary day tariffs.

The hours for which the extremely discounted EV electricity tariffs apply will be in the very early morning, typically somewhere between 2am and 6am. Some plans may offer as little as two hours of charging time, while others may stretch up to the full four hours.

Discounted Electricity Rates

Switching your electricity plan each year is critical to make sure you are on the lowest possible tariffs.

It’s free to switch and it can save you thousands.

Best Electricity Plans for Electric Vehicles

Electricity Supplier Plan EV Tariff EV Time
Pinergy Lifestyle EV Drive Time 5.45c per kWh 2am – 5am
SSE Airtricity Smart EV Charge 8.578c per kWh 2am – 5am
Energia Smart Drive 8.873c per kWh 2am – 6am
Bord Gais Smart EV Electricity 9.309c per kWh 2am – 5am
Electric Ireland Home Electric+ Night Boost 10.519c per kWh 2am – 4am

Tariffs listed above are inclusive of 9% VAT

Part of choosing the best plan for an electric vehicle is both the price of the EV tariff and the hours which it is available. A slightly more expensive tariff which is available for an hour longer might be better value if you do a lot of chagrin. If you don’t drive your EV a lot and only need a slight top up, the the lowest rate will be the best option.

Things to Avoid for Home EV Charging

There are several things you should avoid when charging your EV at home or selecting a plan based on EV charging needs.

Electricity plans which have a single rate throughout the day can be a very expensive option for people who drive their electric car a lot. Without a discounted night rate or EV rate, then charging your electric vehicle will seriously impact your electricity bill.

Many Smart electricity plans also feature a Peak Tariff. This is between 5pm and 7pm when electricity is even more expensive than ordinary day rates. Avoid charging your EV during the day, and especially during peak hours.

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What else can affect the value of an EV electricity plan?

Beyond looking for the best electricity rates in EV plans, there are other factors which may affect the value which you can get from an electricity plan.

Electricity providers offer varying discounts on their standard rates with different plans. On its own one EV rate might seem to be the cheapest. However, if an offer comes with a greater discount on its standard rates, that can change the results.

Electricity plans may also come with a cash welcome bonus for new customers signing up with a provider.

EV Home Charging in Ireland

Other Uses for EV Tariffs

The highly discounted EV rate doesn’t only have to be used for charging an electric vehicle. If you have a battery storage system in your home it would be ideal to charge it at night. Charging the battery at night, when prices are cheaper, to use the stored electricity in the day can result in significant savings.

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