The best EV electricity plan in Ireland depends on your whole household bill, not just the lowest overnight rate. Compare the hours you can charge, the price outside those hours, standing charges and discount terms. A longer cheap window can matter as much as a lower price per unit.
Rates and supplier pages checked: 22 October 2026. The selected plans below are a dated comparison, not a whole-market cheapest-price ranking. Unit rates are cents per kWh including VAT, with the discount shown. Confirm the exact offer for your meter, address and start date before switching.
Which EV electricity plans should you compare?
| Supplier and plan | EV window | EV rate, incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Energia Smart EV Duo | 02:00–06:00 | 12.25c (10% discount) |
| Energia EV Smart Drive Plus | 02:00–06:00 | 13.25c (10% discount) |
| Electric Ireland Night Boost | 02:00–04:00 | 10.88c (5.5% discount) |
| Bord Gáis Energy EV | 02:00–05:00 | Current quote |
| Yuno EV Variable Discount | 02:00–06:00 | 12.11c (variable) |
| SSE Airtricity Smart EV Max | 23:00–05:00 | Current quote |
Read the other charges with the EV rate
- Energia: its tariff sheet lists Smart EV Duo at 40.16c outside charge time. Smart Drive Plus lists 38.93c day, 23.99c night and 51.08c peak. Both list annual standing charges of €339.22 urban / €431.38 rural, with rates effective 12 October 2026. Match your quote to the sheet's tariff name and discount; the EV Smart Drive offer describes the four-hour window.
- Electric Ireland: the Home Electric+ Night Boost page displays 37.60c day and 18.54c night, with a 5.5% discount. Get the applicable standing charge and discount with your quote. The separate charger-bundle bill credit has its own conditions and is not included here.
- Bord Gáis Energy: compare the exact EV product, day/night/peak rates and standing charge. Its comparison page gives prices effective from 9 October 2026.
- Yuno Energy: the displayed variable tariff lists 36.70c outside EV hours, with annual standing charges of €334.19 urban / €366.02 rural. The tariff is dated 14 September 2026; check current sign-up terms and app/payment requirements.
- SSE Airtricity: the six-hour window can suit a larger top-up. Compare the other 18 hours, standing charge, payment discount and contract terms.
These are different products and discount bases, so the EV-rate column alone does not rank their total cost. Check the full quote, including any usage thresholds, levies, exit fees and what happens when the offer ends. Flogas also publishes EV tariff offers; compare the exact electricity or dual-fuel product that fits your home.
What changed in October 2026?
Energia's price change took effect on 12 October. Its current tariff sheet now lists the Smart EV Duo discounted charge-time rate at 12.25c/kWh, replacing the 9.42c example previously shown in this guide. An old comparison or supplier blog can still show the earlier figure; use the dated tariff sheet and your own offer.
Bord Gáis Energy's published comparison gives 9 October as the effective date for its prices. Compare quotes using the dates that apply to your supply, not a September screenshot.
Yuno's current plan page distinguishes its variable EV offer from EV Standard Smart, which is not available to new customers. Check the product name as well as the supplier name. Pinergy's lifestyle tariff page marks EV Night Time as no longer on sale from 21 May 2026; the old 5.99c figure is not a current switching recommendation.
Will your charging fit the cheap window?
Work out the electricity your usual top-up needs, then compare it with the hours available. At a constant 7.4 kW, a two-hour window allows up to 14.8 kWh from the supply; three hours allows 22.2 kWh, four hours 29.6 kWh and six hours 44.4 kWh. These are power-times-duration calculations, not promises of battery energy or driving range. Your car's AC limit, household load management and charging losses affect the result.
For 10 kWh measured at the meter, 10.88c/kWh costs about €1.09 and 12.25c/kWh about €1.23, before standing charges and other bill items. Those are calculations from the Electric Ireland and Energia examples above, not a cost comparison for a full household.
If charging continues after the EV window, price those remaining units at the applicable rate. Our night-rate charging guide explains scheduling and meter differences. Use the charging cost calculator with your own mileage and tariff; it estimates driving costs rather than choosing a whole-house electricity plan.
How to compare your whole annual electricity bill
Use a recent bill or your actual meter-usage history. Separate the car's expected charging from your other household use, then estimate how many units fall into each quoted time band.
- Multiply the units in each band by its quoted unit price. Include charging that will fall outside the cheap window.
- Add the annual standing charge, applicable levies and other charges.
- Apply only the discounts and bill credits for which you qualify, over the period they actually last.
- Include any exit fee on your current contract and compare the cost after the new introductory offer ends.
A household with a heat pump, home battery, second EV or substantial daytime use can get a different result from a household doing the same car mileage. If you have solar, include export payments and the value of using surplus generation at home. The CRU lists accredited comparison services for comparing suppliers.
Can a cheaper EV rate make your total bill higher?
Yes. As an illustrative calculation, saving 2c/kWh on 2,000 annual charging kWh saves €40. Paying 1c/kWh more on 4,000 other household kWh adds €40, before any standing-charge difference. Those inputs describe a calculation, not a supplier offer or a typical household. A lower EV rate alone does not establish a saving.
Compare the same annual use across the full tariff bands and contract period. If you cannot fit all charging into the cheap window, assign the remaining units to the actual rate that applies. Keep installation grants, charger-bundle credits and ongoing electricity prices separate.
Do you need a smart meter or a particular charger?
Ask the supplier to confirm the meter configuration, half-hourly data requirements and activation date for its exact offer. Electric Ireland's Home Electric+ plans use smart meters. An existing day/night tariff is a different product, so do not assume its hours match a smart EV window.
Some plans simply price electricity by time; others involve a specific charger or service integration. Confirm that distinction before buying hardware. For a time-based tariff, schedule the car or charger to the confirmed hours and avoid conflicting timers. Our charger comparison and model-specific owner guides explain the equipment we install.
What should you check before switching?
- The full name of the offer, its effective date and whether you qualify as a new or existing customer.
- Day, night, peak and EV rates including VAT, plus standing charges and levies.
- The charging window, any consumption threshold and the price above it.
- The contract length, discount end date, payment method, app requirements and exit fee.
- The meter and any charger integration the supplier requires.
Already have a charger? Start with your bill and charging schedule. Planning your first installation? Compare current installed charger prices, check grant eligibility and start a property assessment. The installation price and the electricity plan are separate parts of the decision.