What Is Intelligent Octopus Go?
Intelligent Octopus Go is a specialist energy tariff designed for electric vehicle owners. It offers ultra-low electricity rates during an off-peak window of 00:30–05:30 every night, incentivising you to charge your EV when the grid has spare capacity and electricity is cheapest. The result? Average savings of 68% compared to the standard tariff.
What makes it “intelligent” is the smart charging feature. If you have a compatible charger or vehicle, Octopus automatically manages your charging schedule. You tell the app when you need the car ready and to what charge level, and the system finds the cheapest time slots to charge — all without you lifting a finger.
The tariff works with any electric vehicle and any charger type — from a standard 3-pin plug to a 22kW wallbox. Over 50% of UK smart EV tariff customers are on Intelligent Octopus Go, making it the most popular EV energy tariff in Britain.
Off-Peak Window & Savings
During the off-peak window, you pay a significantly reduced rate for all electricity used — not just EV charging. This means running your dishwasher, washing machine, or tumble dryer overnight also benefits from the lower rate. Outside the off-peak window, you pay the standard peak rate (approximately 27p/kWh).
For a typical EV driver covering 8,000 miles per year, the savings from charging at off-peak rates versus the standard rate translate to hundreds of pounds annually. Combined with the £50 referral credit from switching, the financial case is compelling. Compare this with public charging costs and the savings are even more dramatic — Octopus's app covers 50%+ of UK public charging points too.
How Intelligent Charging Works
The “intelligent” part of the tariff uses either your vehicle's API or your smart charger's connection to automatically schedule charging during the cheapest periods. Here's how it works:
- Set your preferences — tell the Octopus app when you need the car ready and your target charge level
- Plug in any time — just connect your car when you get home, no need to set timers
- Smart scheduling — Octopus automatically shifts charging to the cheapest off-peak slots
- Wake up ready — your car is charged to your target level by your departure time
If you don't have a compatible smart charger or vehicle API, you can still use Intelligent Go — you just need to manually start charging during the 00:30–05:30 window using a timer on your charger or vehicle.
New for 2026: 6-Hour Charging Limit
Launching in 2026, the 6-hour charging limit feature extends the smart charging capability beyond the standard 00:30–05:30 window. Instead of being limited to a fixed 5-hour off-peak period, the system will be able to find 6 hours of the cheapest electricity across a wider window — potentially starting earlier in the evening or extending later into the morning.
This is particularly useful for vehicles with larger batteries (80kWh+) that may struggle to fully charge in 5 hours on a 7kW home charger, and for households with solar panels who may benefit from charging during sunny afternoon periods when excess solar generation is available.
Works With Any EV & Charger
Whether you drive a Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, or any other EV, Intelligent Octopus Go gives you access to ultra-low overnight rates. The tariff doesn't restrict which charger you use either — 3-pin plug, dedicated wallbox, or even public chargers at home.
For the full intelligent scheduling features, you'll need either a compatible smart charger or a vehicle with direct API integration. But even without these, the off-peak rate is available to anyone who charges during the 00:30–05:30 window. Explore our complete guide for EV owners for more tips on maximising your savings, or compare Intelligent Go with all other Octopus tariffs.