Electric cars
Two electric cars on Intelligent Octopus Go
What to check when two EVs share one home on Intelligent Octopus Go: device control, charging time and the whole-home window.
Edited by Rob Gibbs. Published: . Guidance reviewed: .
Short answer
The 23:30 to 05:30 cheap window covers the whole home, so a second car charging in that window also gets the off-peak rate. The smart scheduling outside the window, which Octopus also bills at the off-peak rate, applies to the devices Octopus controls. Ask Octopus how a second car or charger is handled on your account before relying on it.
What the whole-home window gives both cars
Everything your meter records between 23:30 and 05:30 is billed at the off-peak rate. If both cars can finish charging within those six hours, both get the cheap rate whichever one Octopus is scheduling.
Where it gets complicated
Check these before buying a second charger:
- Which car or charger Octopus is controlling for smart charging.
- Whether both cars can finish within six hours at your charger speed.
- Whether your home’s supply and fuse can handle two chargers at once.
Working out the numbers
Add up the kWh each car needs per night and divide by the charger power. If the total is more than six hours, some charging will happen at the day rate unless Octopus schedules it.
Questions people ask
Do both cars get the cheap rate?
Anything charged between 23:30 and 05:30 is billed at the off-peak rate. Smart charging outside that window depends on which device Octopus controls.
Do I need two chargers?
Not necessarily. You can alternate nights with one charger, but check both cars will be charged enough when you need them.
Tariffs in this guide
Related guides
- Which cars and chargers work with Intelligent Octopus Go?How to check whether your car or charger works with Intelligent Octopus Go, what happens if it does not, and the Go tariff that works with any EV.
- Charging a company EV at home on an Octopus tariffWhat to sort out when you charge a company or salary-sacrifice EV at home on Octopus Go or Intelligent Go: records, reimbursement and the whole-home cost.
- How smart EV charging works on Intelligent Octopus GoHow Intelligent Octopus Go schedules your EV, why charging sometimes happens outside the overnight window, and how it is billed.
- Plug-in hybrids on Octopus Go and Intelligent GoWhether a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can use Octopus EV tariffs, and why a smaller battery changes whether they save you money.
- Single-phase vs three-phase home EV chargingWhy most home EV chargers run at around 7kW, when three-phase charging helps, and why a faster charger rarely matters on an overnight tariff.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: heat pump grants in England and WalesHow much the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays towards a heat pump, the extra help for oil and LPG homes, and what does not qualify.
Primary sources
- How does Intelligent Octopus Go work and how can I join? — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-10-30. The 23:30 to 05:30 whole-home window, smart charging billed at the off-peak rate and eligibility checks.
- Octopus tariffs for electric cars — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-08-27. Current EV tariff choices, charging windows, smart-meter and device-compatibility requirements.
- Smart Tariffs terms and conditions — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-08-24. Smart-tariff eligibility, rate windows, compatibility and publication caveats.