How to Set Up Scheduled Charging to Hit Off-Peak Rates

Setting up scheduled charging is one of the most practical things you can do as an EV owner: it means your car charges automatically during the cheapest overnight hours without you having to think about it each night. The method varies by car and tariff, but the general approach is the same across most modern EVs. You set a departure time, the car works backwards from there, and it draws power only during the hours you specify. If you are on a time-of-use tariff with cheap overnight electricity, this can make a meaningful difference to your charging costs over the course of a year. Visit our other guides for more on choosing the right home charging setup.

What is a time-of-use tariff and why does it matter?

A time-of-use electricity tariff charges different rates depending on the time of day. Off-peak hours, typically overnight, have a lower rate than peak times (usually early evening). Several UK energy suppliers offer EV-specific tariffs designed around this model, with cheap overnight windows that align with overnight charging. The saving over standard charging rates can be significant over a full year of regular charging. The exact rates change frequently, so check your current supplier's tariff and compare alternatives rather than relying on any figures quoted elsewhere. The key point is: the schedule feature in your car or wallbox is what lets you unlock those cheaper rates automatically.

How do you set scheduled charging in most EVs?

The exact steps vary by car, but the general approach is consistent across most modern EVs.

• Find the charging menu: Look in your car's settings or infotainment system under "Charging", "Energy", or "Battery".
• Set a departure time: Most cars ask for the time you want the car to be ready rather than the time you want charging to start. The car calculates backwards.
• Set off-peak hours: Enter the start and end times of your cheap-rate window. Your energy supplier or tariff documents will tell you what these are.
• Set a charge target: Choose a percentage to reach by departure (often 80 per cent for daily use, or 100 per cent before a long trip).
• Save and plug in: Once plugged in, the car will wait until the off-peak window starts, then charge to reach the target by your departure time.

Refer to your car's manual for model-specific instructions: the exact menu path and available options differ between manufacturers.

Can a smart wallbox handle the schedule instead?

Yes. Many smart wallboxes have their own scheduling function in their companion app, which controls when the wallbox supplies power regardless of the car's own settings. This is useful if your car's scheduling feature is limited or if you want to manage charging centrally for multiple vehicles. If both the car and the wallbox have schedules active, they can conflict, so it is generally best to use one or the other rather than both. Some smart wallboxes also integrate directly with energy supplier tariffs, adjusting the charge window automatically when cheap-rate hours shift.

What if you need the car sooner than expected?

A scheduled charge is not a locked commitment. You can override it at any time by going into the charging menu and cancelling the schedule, or by pressing the relevant override button in the car or app. In an emergency, unplugging and replugging while disabling the schedule will usually trigger immediate charging. It is worth knowing where this override is before you need it. Most cars also let you set a minimum charge level, so that even during a scheduled delay the car will charge if the battery drops below a certain point, which is a useful safety net.

Are there any pitfalls to watch out for?

• Public charging: Scheduled charging settings designed for home use can prevent a session from starting at a public charger. When you use a public charger, either disable the schedule or use the override before plugging in.
• Tariff windows changing: Energy suppliers can adjust their off-peak hours. Check your tariff periodically and update your schedule to match.
• Multiple settings locations: Some cars store schedules in both the infotainment system and the companion app, and they do not always sync. Confirm which takes priority for your car.
• Pre-conditioning: If you also want the car's cabin pre-conditioned before departure, ensure the pre-conditioning setting references the same departure time as your charging schedule.

How do you know it is actually working?

After setting up the schedule, plug in on the first evening and watch the car's charging indicator. The car should show a waiting state (often a clock or pause icon on the dashboard or in the app) rather than immediately drawing power. Check the next morning that the battery has reached your target and note the time charging actually began. Most companion apps show a charging history that lets you verify the session ran in the expected window. If the car charged outside your off-peak hours, revisit the schedule settings and confirm the wallbox is not overriding the car's settings or vice versa.

Frequently asked questions

Does scheduled charging work with any home charger or only with a smart wallbox?

Scheduled charging can be managed from the car's own settings, so it works even with a basic, non-smart wallbox. The car simply waits before drawing power. A smart wallbox adds flexibility by managing the schedule independently, integrating with tariffs automatically, and allowing remote control. For most drivers, the car's built-in scheduler is sufficient to hit off-peak rates.

Will my car override the schedule and charge immediately if the battery is very low?

Many EVs have a minimum charge level setting that triggers immediate charging if the battery drops below a threshold, regardless of any active schedule. This is a useful safeguard. Check your car's manual to see whether this feature is available and how to set it. If you arrive home with very little charge, it is worth manually overriding the schedule for that session rather than relying on the car to do so.

Can I set different schedules for weekdays and weekends?

This varies by car and wallbox. Some systems allow day-specific schedules; others only support a single recurring schedule. Your car's manual or the wallbox app will confirm what is possible. If your off-peak hours are consistent every day, a single schedule is usually all you need. For more complex patterns, a smart wallbox app often offers more flexibility than the car's built-in options.

My off-peak window is only a few hours. Will the car finish charging in time?

It depends on how much charge is needed and the power available from your wallbox. A 7kW wallbox can add a useful amount of range in a few hours. If you regularly need large top-ups in a short window, a more powerful wallbox may help. For a sense of what your specific car can achieve, check the manufacturer's spec for AC charging speed. Remember that the car or wallbox always limits the rate to whichever is lower.

Does scheduled charging put extra wear on the battery?

Scheduled charging itself does not add extra wear. In fact, by allowing you to set a charge target below 100 per cent and to time charging so the battery reaches its limit close to departure rather than sitting fully charged for hours, it can be slightly gentler on the battery than unmanaged overnight charging. The key principle is the same: keep the battery in its middle range most of the time and avoid leaving it fully charged for extended periods.

What is the difference between a charging schedule and a smart tariff integration?

A charging schedule is set manually: you specify the off-peak window and the car or wallbox charges within it. A smart tariff integration is automated: the wallbox communicates directly with your energy supplier and adjusts charging based on live or forecast pricing, which can mean it charges during windows you did not manually specify. The latter is more sophisticated but requires a compatible smart wallbox and a supported tariff. A basic schedule is simpler and effective for most drivers on a standard time-of-use tariff.

Once your schedule is running smoothly, your main job is keeping the car plugged in each evening. A quality Type 2 charging cable handles the connection between a socketed wallbox and your car, and if you ever charge away from home, a portable charger lets you top up from any standard socket when a wallbox is not available.