Comparing EV electricity plans

Comparing EV electricity plans in Australia

For drivers that charge an EV at home, choosing an electricity plan that helps reduce energy bills is an important choice to make.

Many electricity providers now offer specialised energy plans for electric cars, designed to accommodate EV charging schedules while providing discounts on general energy usage and encouraging drivers to charge when electricity demand is low.

In some cases, these plans also integrate solar feed-in tariffs, helping drivers reap a return on their solar setups.

This guide compares a variety of EV-specific electricity plans, as well as plans with free electricity at certain times, currently available in Australia.

Whether you’re looking to take advantage of off-peak charging rates or are keen on reducing your energy costs further with solar energy, there are several options available.

None require a dedicated EV “wall charger”, although to get the most out of energy plans with 2-3 hour free periods it may make sense in the long term to install one so the EV can charge faster.

Many plans require a smart meter, but in most cases, the transition to one is free. Here’s what Australia’s major energy providers are offering to EV drivers.

Provider and plan	What it offers	How it works	State
Engie EV Night Saver	EV charging with a 6c/kWh discount between 12-6am, 27% off reference price, and a 5c solar feed-in tariff.	Requires a smart meter Must own an EV registered at the same address Does not need a dedicated EV charger	Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland
ACTew evEnergy Saver	Free between 12-2pm on Saturdays and Sundays, 9% off reference price, free meter upgrade, no lock-in contract, solar feed-in tariff depends on location.	Requires a smart meter If you have solar panels, the energy produced by them will be used first in free period	ACT and some parts of NSW
Origin EV Power Up	This is an add-on offer to existing plans with EV charging at 8c/kWh. Currently only available for compatible Tesla vehicles.	This trial add-on program decides when to charge your EV by using solar energy during the day or lower demand periods at night No smart meter required Requires downloading the Origin Energy smartphone app	New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT
AGL Night Saver EV Energy Plan	EV charging at 8c/kWh between 12-6am, 27% off reference price, and a 5c solar feed-in tariff.	Requires a smart meter Must own an EV registered at the same address Does not need a dedicated EV charger	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia
Red Energy Red EV Saver	Free between 12-2pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and a 5c solar feed-in tariff.	Requires a smart or interval meter Must own an EV registered at the same address Does not need a dedicated EV charger	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT
OVO Energy The EV Plan	8c/kWh from 12-6am, and free between 11am-2pm, and a 3c solar feed-in tariff.	Requires a smart meter and time-of-use tariff Must own an EV	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia
OVO Energy Basic Free 3 Plan	Not specifically for EVs but offers free electricity between 11am-2pm plus a 3c solar feed-in tariff.	Requires a smart meter and time-of-use tariff Must own an EV	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia
Powershop EV Day	Free between 12-2pm, solar feed-in tariff depends on location.	Requires a smart meter and time-of-use tariff Must own an EV	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia
Powershop EV Night	Free between 12-4am, solar feed-in tariff depends on location.	Requires a smart meter and time-of-use tariff Must own an EV	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia
Globird Free Lunch	Not specifically for EVs but offers free electricity between 12-2pm, solar feed-in tariff between 2.1-8.1c/kWh depending on off-peak, shoulder and peak periods.	Requires a smart meter and time-of-use tariff	New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia
Momentum Energy EV Does it	Reduced off-peak rates and $100 Evie public charging voucher. Solar feed-in tariff depends on location. Features 100% Green power.	Requires a smart meter and a time-of-use rate Must own an EV registered at the same address.	Victoria and Tasmania
Synergy Midday Saver	Not specifically for EVs but offers 8.4c/kWh between 9am-3pm.	Requires a smart meter and time-of-use tariff	Western Australia
Synergy EV Add On	8.4c/kWh between 9am-3pm, 18.9c/kWh between 11pm-6am.	Requires a smart meter and a time-of-use rate Must own an EV registered at the same address	Western Australia

Which EV energy plan is right for me?

If you prefer to charge overnight, Engie’s EV Night Saver, AGL’s Night Saver EV Energy Plan, Powershop's EV Night, Synergy's EV Add On or OVO Energy’s The EV Plan might be ideal as they offer low-cost electricity during off peak hours.
If you prefer day time charging, Globird's Free Lunch, Powershop’s EV Day or Synergy's Midday Saver might be attractive for offering free charging during midday hours. Note, other plans may also offer solar feed-in tariffs but pricing depends on your postcode.
If you want the flexibility of charging during the day or night, consider OVO Energy’s The EV Plan, or Origin's EV Power Up add-on.
If you prefer to charge at home on weekends, go for Red Energy's Red EV Saver, ACTew's evEnergy Saver or OVO Energy’s Basic Free 3 Plan .
If you're in Tasmania or Victoria and love the added bonus of public charging voucher, go with Momentum.

Choosing the right EV electricity plan for you depends on several factors, such as where you live, when you need to charge your EV, and whether you have solar panels or a battery. The Federal Government's Energy Made Easy website can help you find specific rates for your location and circumstances.

This article was updated on September 20, 2024, to correct the Engie plan which has a 6c/kWh discount, not 6c/kWh price between 12-6am.

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