What's the Cheapest Time to Charge an EV?
Last updated: October 2025
Learn about time-of-use electricity rates and optimal charging schedules to minimize your EV charging costs and save 30-50% on your electric bill.
The cheapest time to charge is usually off-peak—late night to early morning, and sometimes mid-day in solar-heavy regions. Many utilities set peak between 4–9 p.m.; weekends and holidays are often off-peak. Always check your own rate plan.
- 1.Look up your utility rate plan (search "EV" + your utility + "TOU"). Note the peak, off-peak, and any super off-peak windows.
- 2.If multiple plans exist, compare the off-peak price and whether weekends/holidays are off-peak.
- 3.Enable scheduled charging in your car/app so charging automatically happens in those windows (finish by departure time, not necessarily 100%).
- •California (PG&E): Off-peak roughly 12 a.m.–3 p.m.; 4–9 p.m. is peak on many plans.
- •Southern California Edison (SCE): Peak 4–9 p.m.; TOU-D PRIME offers lower off-peak rates.
- •Ontario (Canada): Ultra-Low Overnight off-peak 11 p.m.–7 a.m.
- •UK (Octopus Go): Cheaper window 00:30–05:30 nightly.
- •Texas retail plans: some "free nights" offers (e.g., 11 p.m.–6 a.m.) exist, but daytime kWh rates can be higher—do the math first.
Use your vehicle/app to set off-peak end time and departure time. The car will delay charging so most energy flows during the cheapest window, then finish near departure.
Savings ≈ kWh shifted × (peak price − off-peak price).
Example: shifting 200 kWh/month from $0.30 to $0.12 saves ≈ $36/month (200 × 0.18).
Off-Peak Hours
10 PM - 6 AM
Lowest rates, best savings
Mid-Peak Hours
6 AM - 4 PM
Moderate rates
On-Peak Hours
4 PM - 10 PM
Highest rates, avoid if possible
Note: Exact time periods vary by utility company and region. Weekend rates are often lower than weekday rates across all periods.
Example costs for charging a Tesla Model Y (75 kWh battery, 0-80% charge = 60 kWh)
| Time Period | Hours | Rate Example | Charge Cost (60 kWh) | Monthly Savings* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak | 10 PM - 6 AM | $0.08/kWh | $4.80 | $52 saved |
| Mid-Peak | 6 AM - 4 PM | $0.12/kWh | $7.20 | $26 saved |
| On-Peak | 4 PM - 10 PM | $0.18/kWh | $10.80 | Baseline |
Off-Peak (10 PM - 6 AM)
Mid-Peak (6 AM - 4 PM)
On-Peak (4 PM - 10 PM)
*Based on charging 3 times per week. Actual savings vary by utility rates and charging frequency.
Built-in Vehicle Features
- •Departure time scheduling: Set your desired departure time, vehicle charges to be ready
- •Off-peak charging mode: Many EVs have settings to only charge during off-peak hours
- •Charge limit settings: Set to 80% for daily use, 100% only for long trips
Smart Home Chargers
- •Time-based scheduling: Program charger to start at specific times (e.g., 11 PM)
- •Rate integration: Some chargers connect to utility APIs for real-time rate optimization
- •Load balancing: Manage charging power to avoid demand charges
Many utilities offer special rate plans designed specifically for EV owners with even better off-peak savings.
EV-Specific Time-of-Use Plans
- • Super off-peak rates as low as $0.05-0.07/kWh
- • Extended off-peak hours (9 PM - 9 AM in some areas)
- • Weekend discounts for EV charging
Whole-House vs EV-Only Plans
- • Whole-house: All electricity usage follows TOU rates
- • EV-only: Separate meter for EV charging with special rates
- • Recommendation: Compare both options with your utility
- •Mid-day super off-peak exists in some solar-heavy areas; consider workplace/home mid-day charging.
- •Tiered vs TOU: If you're on a tiered plan, cheapest time might not change—watch your baseline/tier thresholds.
- •Demand charges usually don't apply to residential Level 2, but can affect commercial sites.
- •Cold/hot weather can shift when it's best to charge (battery preconditioning + off-peak is ideal).
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