Night Rate Electricity for EV Charging in Ireland: The Complete Tariff Guide

Charging on the right night-rate tariff is as important as choosing the right charger. Irish EV owners on a smart tariff pay roughly 12–15 c/kWh overnight — versus 40+ c/kWh at a public rapid charger. Here is how to choose the best deal.

Why Your Electricity Tariff Matters as Much as Your Charger

Most Irish EV buyers spend considerable time choosing between charger brands — Easee vs Zappi, tethered vs untethered. Fewer spend equivalent effort on the electricity tariff they charge on. This is a mistake, because the tariff determines the per-kWh cost of every kilometre you drive for the lifetime of the vehicle.

The difference between a standard domestic tariff (~30 c/kWh day rate) and a smart EV night tariff (~13 c/kWh) is roughly 130% more expensive per kWh for daytime charging. Over 15,000 km/year, at 20 kWh/100 km, that is 3,000 kWh of charging. The cost difference is:

Standard day rate: 3,000 × €0.30 = €900/year
Smart night rate: 3,000 × €0.13 = €390/year

Choosing the right tariff saves €510 per year — more than the value of the SEAI grant, every year.

How Smart Night Tariffs Work

Irish electricity suppliers offer time-of-use (TOU) tariffs that charge different rates depending on when you use electricity. These are specifically designed for EV owners and other high-energy consumers (those with heat pumps, batteries, or high overnight demand).

The mechanics:

You switch to an EV-specific or smart TOU tariff with your supplier
Your smart meter records exactly when electricity is consumed
During the night window (typically 23:00–08:00 or similar), you pay the cheap night rate
During the day, you pay a higher rate — often slightly above standard tariffs
You programme your EV charger (via OCPP app) to charge only during the night window

The key is ensuring your charger starts automatically at the beginning of the cheap window. All SEAI-approved OCPP smart chargers support scheduled charging — you set it once and forget it.

Irish EV Night Tariff Comparison 2026

Electric Ireland Night Boost

Night rate: approximately 12–13 c/kWh (23:00–08:00)
Day rate: approximately 32–35 c/kWh
Standing charge: standard household standing charge applies
Smart meter required: yes
Notes: One of the most established EV tariffs in Ireland; Electric Ireland has the largest customer base. App and in-call support are well-regarded. Compatible with any OCPP smart charger.

Energia Smart Drive EV Tariff

Night rate: approximately 12–14 c/kWh (overnight window)
Day rate: approximately 30–33 c/kWh
Standing charge: competitive
Smart meter required: yes
Notes: Energia markets specifically to EV owners and has built strong brand awareness in this segment. Competitive rates; worth comparing unit rates carefully as these change quarterly.

Bord Gáis Energy EV Tariff

Night rate: approximately 11–13 c/kWh (overnight)
Day rate: approximately 31–34 c/kWh
Standing charge: standard
Smart meter required: yes
Notes: Bord Gáis has offered competitive EV tariffs and bundled them with its gas supply in some cases. If you are already a Bord Gáis customer, bundled rates may reduce total bills. Check current promotional rates.

SSE Airtricity EV Plan

Night rate: approximately 13–15 c/kWh (typically 23:00–08:00)
Day rate: approximately 31–35 c/kWh
Standing charge: standard
Smart meter required: yes
Notes: SSE Airtricity offers green electricity credentials and strong renewable sourcing claims. Slightly higher night rate than some competitors but backed by significant renewable generation in Ireland.

Pinergy EV Smart Tariff

Night rate: approximately 13–16 c/kWh (varies by plan tier)
Day rate: varies
Notes: Pinergy offers prepayment smart tariffs including EV-optimised plans. Less common but worth checking if their overall package suits your usage pattern.

Important: All tariff rates listed are approximate 2026 figures. Electricity prices in Ireland fluctuate with wholesale market conditions and supplier pricing reviews. Always check the current rates directly with each supplier before switching.

The Role of Your Smart Meter

All EV night tariffs in Ireland require a smart meter (also called a smart electricity meter or interval meter). Smart meters record electricity consumption in 30-minute intervals, allowing suppliers to apply time-of-use pricing accurately.

Ireland’s smart meter rollout is managed by ESB Networks, with installation at no cost to homeowners. As of 2026, the majority of Irish homes have had smart meters installed. If your meter has not been upgraded, you can request a smart meter from ESB Networks at no charge — this is a prerequisite for switching to any TOU tariff.

Without a smart meter, you can still switch suppliers but you will be placed on a standard (non-time-of-use) tariff and will not benefit from the overnight discount rate.

Setting Up Scheduled Charging

Once you are on a night-rate tariff, configuring your charger to start at the cheap window is essential. The process varies slightly by charger brand:

Easee One / Easee Charge app: Set a charging schedule in the app — select days, start time (e.g., 23:00), and end time (e.g., 07:00). The charger won’t start charging until the scheduled time regardless of when you plug in.

MyEnergi Zappi: Configure a boost timer in the myenergi app or on the charger’s display. Eco+ mode also automatically uses any excess solar generation during the day.

Ohme Home Pro: The Ohme app integrates with several Irish suppliers and can automatically schedule charging to the cheapest hours. If you are on an Ohme-compatible tariff, the app downloads the overnight price schedule and optimises automatically.

Wallbox Pulsar Plus: Schedule via the myWallbox app — set charging windows to match your tariff’s night window.

Microgeneration and Export Tariffs

If you have solar PV, you will also have a microgeneration export tariff — the rate at which your supplier pays you for electricity you export to the grid. As of 2026:

Most Irish suppliers offer 18–24 c/kWh for export
Export rates are lower than import day rates but often higher than wholesale

For solar EV owners, maximising self-consumption (using solar to directly charge the EV rather than exporting) is usually more economical than exporting and then reimporting overnight. The MyEnergi Zappi excels at this — it automatically diverts excess solar to EV charging rather than exporting it.

Should You Switch Tariff Before or After Getting a Charger?

You can do both simultaneously or in either order — there is no dependency. However:

Apply for the SEAI grant before installation (required)
Switch tariff after you have the charger installed and working, so you can configure the schedule immediately
Request a smart meter as soon as possible if you do not already have one — this takes 2–6 weeks from ESB Networks

The optimal sequence: SEAI grant application → installation → tariff switch (if changing supplier) or tariff change with current supplier → configure scheduled charging.

The Bottom Line

The four main EV night tariffs in Ireland — Electric Ireland Night Boost, Energia Smart Drive, Bord Gáis EV Tariff, and SSE Airtricity EV — all offer approximately 12–15 c/kWh overnight. The differences between them are currently modest (1–3 c/kWh), so switching between them repeatedly for marginal gains is not worth the effort.

More important is simply ensuring you are on any EV night tariff rather than a standard domestic tariff, where daytime charging at 30+ c/kWh can cost 2–3 times as much per kilometre driven.

Schedule your charging to start at 23:00 (or whenever your tariff’s night window begins), and you will pay the minimum possible per kWh for the lifetime of your EV.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to switch suppliers to get a night rate tariff?

Not necessarily — your current supplier may offer an EV night tariff. Check with Electric Ireland, Energia, Bord Gáis, or SSE Airtricity directly. If your current supplier’s EV tariff is less competitive, switching is straightforward via www.switcher.ie or bonkers.ie.

What if I need to charge during the day when I get home?

Your charger will still charge — it just costs more per kWh. The day rate on most EV tariffs is roughly 30–35 c/kWh, versus 12–15 c/kWh overnight. For occasional daytime top-ups this is fine; for primary daytime charging, the economics favour staying on a standard tariff (which has lower daytime rates) unless your night savings outweigh the higher daytime premium.

How does the smart meter know I am charging an EV and not using other appliances?

It does not — the smart meter simply records total electricity consumption by 30-minute interval. The supplier applies the time-of-use rate (night or day) to all consumption in that period, regardless of what appliances are running. Your EV charger, washing machine, and TV all benefit from the overnight rate if they run during the night window.

Can I get a night rate tariff if I am on a Pay As You Go meter?

Some suppliers, including Pinergy, offer PAYG EV tariffs with overnight discount periods. However, the range of options is more limited than for standard credit meters. Check with PAYG-compatible suppliers directly.

Is there a minimum contract period for EV tariffs in Ireland?

Most Irish electricity suppliers offer EV tariffs on standard 12-month contracts (common with fixed-rate tariffs) or rolling monthly terms (variable tariffs). Read the terms carefully — some promotional rates require a minimum term or exit fees if you switch before the contract ends.

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