Best Time to Charge Your Electric Car

Electricity is not a flat-rate commodity. The price your utility charges per kilowatt-hour fluctuates throughout the day based on overall grid demand. During peak hours (typically late afternoon through early evening), everyone is running their air conditioning, cooking dinner, and watching TV. The grid is under maximum stress, and utilities respond by charging premium rates.

During off-peak hours (typically late night through early morning), demand drops dramatically. Power plants are still running, wind turbines are still spinning, and all that capacity has nowhere to go. Utilities incentivize nighttime consumption with deeply discounted rates, sometimes 50–70% cheaper than peak rates.

The Real Dollar Impact

Let us put real numbers to this. Assume you drive the national average of 13,500 miles per year in an EV that gets 3.5 miles per kWh. You need about 4,286 kWh per year for charging (accounting for 90% charging efficiency). Here is what that costs at different rates:

The difference between charging during peak hours and super off-peak hours can be $800–$1,500 per year. That is not a rounding error—it is a significant financial impact, roughly equivalent to the cost of the charger itself.

It Is Also Better for the Grid and the Environment

Charging during off-peak hours is not just good for your wallet; it is better for the electrical grid and the environment. Here is why:

• Grid stability: By shifting EV charging to nighttime, you help balance grid demand, reducing the need for expensive "peaker" power plants that only run during high-demand periods.
• Cleaner energy: In many regions, the nighttime grid mix includes a higher percentage of wind power (wind tends to blow more at night) and baseload nuclear power. Daytime peak periods often rely more heavily on natural gas peaker plants.
• Infrastructure savings: When everyone charges during off-peak hours, it reduces the need for costly grid upgrades to handle peak demand—savings that can eventually be passed on to ratepayers.

Many utilities actively encourage off-peak EV charging through special rate plans, rebates on smart chargers, and demand-response programs. It is a genuine win-win-win for your wallet, the grid, and the planet.

Time-of-use (TOU) rate plans divide the day into two or three pricing tiers based on electricity demand. Understanding how these tiers work is essential for maximizing your savings.

How TOU Plans Are Structured

Most TOU plans have three pricing periods:

• Peak: The most expensive hours, typically 4 PM to 9 PM on weekdays. This is when residential demand is highest (people returning home from work, cooking, running HVAC). Rates are often 2–4x the off-peak rate.
• Mid-peak (or shoulder): Moderate pricing during daytime hours, typically 7 AM to 4 PM and sometimes 9 PM to 11 PM. Not all utilities have a mid-peak tier.
• Off-peak: The cheapest hours, typically 11 PM to 7 AM (some start as early as 9 PM). Weekend and holiday rates are often off-peak all day.
• Super off-peak: Some utilities offer an even cheaper tier during the lowest-demand hours (midnight to 6 AM). This is the sweet spot for EV charging.

TOU vs Flat-Rate: Which Is Better for EV Owners?

If you can shift 80%+ of your electricity consumption (not just EV charging) away from peak hours, a TOU plan almost always saves money. But there are important caveats:

For most EV owners who charge at night, switching to TOU saves $200–$600 per year on EV charging alone. The savings on the rest of your bill depend on your ability to shift other usage.

EV-Specific Rate Plans

Many utilities now offer rate plans designed specifically for EV owners. These come in two flavors:

Whole-Home EV TOU Plans

Your entire home switches to TOU pricing, with the EV charging benefit being the deeply discounted off-peak rate. Examples include:

• SCE TOU-D-PRIME: Off-peak rate of $0.12/kWh vs peak rate of $0.42/kWh
• PG&E EV2-A: Off-peak rate of $0.24/kWh vs peak rate of $0.53/kWh
• Duke Energy EV Complete: Off-peak rate of $0.06/kWh

Separate EV Meter Plans

Some utilities allow you to install a second electric meter dedicated to your EV charger. This meter gets a special EV rate (often $0.04–$0.08/kWh flat), while your home stays on its regular plan. The downside is the cost of installing the second meter ($200–$500), but for high-mileage drivers, it pays for itself quickly.

• PG&E EV-B: Separate meter, flat rate of approximately $0.06/kWh off-peak
• Austin Energy EV360: Separate meter with discounted EV rate
• Georgia Power Plug-In EV: Separate meter at $0.05/kWh off-peak

How to Switch to a TOU Plan

Switching is usually free and can be done online or by calling your utility:

1. Check your utility's website for available rate plans. Search for "time of use" or "EV rate plan."
2. Compare plans using your past 12 months of usage data (available on your utility account). Many utilities have online tools that project your costs under different plans.
3. Enroll online or call customer service. The switch typically takes one billing cycle.
4. Set your charger schedule to charge during off-peak hours. This is critical—charging during peak hours on a TOU plan is more expensive than a flat rate.

Use our EV charging cost calculator to model different rate scenarios for your specific situation.

Every utility defines its own peak and off-peak windows. Here are the off-peak hours and approximate rates for major U.S. utilities as of 2026. Use this table to determine the best charging window for your location.

How to Read This Table

The off-peak hours column shows when you should be charging. Set your charger's schedule to start at the beginning of the off-peak window and finish before peak hours begin. For example, if your utility's off-peak window is 10 PM to 6 AM, schedule your charger to start at 10 PM.

Most Level 2 chargers at 32 amps will add about 25 miles of range per hour. In an 8-hour off-peak window (10 PM to 6 AM), that is 200 miles of range—more than enough for most daily needs. Even if you drive 60+ miles per day, an overnight charge will fully replenish your battery.

The Biggest Savings Opportunities

Several utilities stand out for exceptional EV savings:

• Austin Energy EV360: At $0.04/kWh off-peak, this is one of the cheapest EV rates in the country. Annual charging cost: approximately $171 for the average driver.
• ComEd (Illinois) hourly pricing: ComEd offers real-time hourly pricing that can drop to $0.02–$0.03/kWh during nighttime hours. Smart chargers that respond to real-time pricing can maximize these savings.
• Georgia Power separate meter: At $0.05/kWh off-peak on a dedicated EV meter, Georgia residents can charge for about $214/year.
• Con Edison (New York): Despite New York's generally expensive electricity, Con Edison's off-peak EV rate of $0.05/kWh is remarkably competitive.

Important note: Rates change. Always verify current rates on your utility's website before switching plans. The rates listed here are approximate and based on early 2026 data.

A smart EV charger is one of the most effective tools for minimizing your charging costs. While you can manually start and stop charging, a smart charger automates the process, ensuring you never accidentally charge during expensive peak hours.

Key Smart Charger Features for Savings

1. Scheduled Charging

The most essential feature. Scheduled charging lets you plug in whenever you arrive home, but charging does not begin until the off-peak window. You set the schedule once in the charger's app, and it runs automatically every night.

This is superior to using your car's built-in charge scheduler for several reasons:

• The charger schedule works regardless of which EV you plug in (great for households with multiple EVs).
• Charger schedules are typically more reliable than car software, which can reset after OTA updates.
• Some chargers allow multiple schedules (e.g., different times on weekdays vs weekends).

2. Energy Monitoring

Smart chargers track exactly how much energy each charging session uses and the associated cost. This data helps you:

• Verify that you are actually charging during off-peak hours
• Track monthly and annual charging costs
• Compare your actual costs against estimates
• Identify anomalies (e.g., a schedule that shifted after a time change)

3. Amperage Adjustment

Many smart chargers let you adjust the charging amperage via the app. Why would you want to charge slower? Two reasons:

• To fit within your off-peak window: If your off-peak window is short (e.g., 6 hours) and your charger would finish in 4 hours at max amperage, reducing the amperage spreads the load more evenly, which is better for battery health.
• Load management: If you have limited panel capacity, reducing the charger amperage during hours when other heavy appliances are running prevents breaker trips. Some chargers do this automatically based on whole-home energy monitoring.

4. Demand Response and Utility Integration

Some smart chargers integrate with utility demand-response programs. When the grid is under stress, the utility can temporarily reduce your charger's output or pause charging. In exchange, you receive bill credits or incentive payments. Programs include:

• Con Edison SmartCharge New York: Earn up to $150/year for allowing off-peak charging optimization.
• PG&E EV Charge Network: Rebates for enrolling smart chargers in demand-response programs.
• Various ChargePoint/Enel X programs: Automated demand response with bill credits.

5. Solar Integration

For homeowners with solar panels, some smart chargers can coordinate with your solar production. They charge at maximum rate when solar production is high (excess energy) and reduce or pause when production drops. This maximizes your solar self-consumption and minimizes grid electricity usage.

Smart Charger vs Dumb Charger: The Cost Difference

Smart chargers typically cost $50–$150 more than basic "dumb" chargers. But the savings they enable through scheduling and energy optimization easily justify the premium:

In every scenario, the smart charger pays for the price premium in the first 2–6 months. After that, it is pure savings, year after year. Browse our best cheap Level 2 EV chargers for smart chargers starting under $250.

This is one of the most common questions new EV owners have, and the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. It depends on your battery chemistry, daily driving distance, and personal preferences.

The Short Answer

You do not need to charge every night, but it is perfectly fine to do so as long as you set your charge limit to 80% for daily use. Modern EV batteries are designed to handle daily charging cycles without significant degradation.

Battery Health Considerations

EV batteries degrade over time based on several factors:

• State of charge (SoC): Keeping the battery between 20% and 80% minimizes stress on the cells. Regularly charging to 100% or depleting to near 0% accelerates degradation.
• Temperature: Extreme heat is the enemy of battery longevity. Charging in a hot garage during a summer afternoon is worse for the battery than charging overnight when temperatures are cooler.
• Charge speed: Slower Level 2 home charging is gentler on the battery than frequent DC fast charging. This is another advantage of home charging.
• Number of cycles: While more cycles do mean more wear, modern lithium-ion batteries are rated for 1,500–3,000+ cycles. Even charging daily, that is 4–8+ years before noticeable degradation.

Charging Strategies by Driver Type

Here is our recommended approach based on your daily driving pattern:

Low-Mileage Driver (Under 30 Miles/Day)

If you drive less than 30 miles daily, you are using less than 10% of most EV batteries each day. You do not need to charge every night. Consider charging every 2–3 days, or simply plug in when you drop below 40–50%. This minimizes charge cycles while keeping a comfortable buffer.

With a Level 2 charger, even a single overnight session will add 150–200 miles of range—enough for a full week of this type of driving. If you only have Level 1 charging, nightly charging may make more sense since it only adds 30–40 miles overnight. Learn more about the differences in our Level 1 vs Level 2 charging guide.

Average Driver (30–60 Miles/Day)

For the typical American commute, charging every night to 80% is the simplest and most practical approach. You plug in when you get home, the smart charger starts during off-peak hours, and you wake up with a full battery every morning. The consistency is convenient and the battery impact is negligible.

If you prefer not to plug in daily, charging every other day works fine too. You will use about 15–35% of your battery daily, so charging every other day keeps you in the ideal 20–80% range.

High-Mileage Driver (60+ Miles/Day)

If you drive 60+ miles daily (rideshare drivers, long commuters, salespeople), nightly charging is recommended. Set your charge limit to 80% for daily use, but charge to 90–100% before known long days or road trips. A Level 2 charger is essentially mandatory for this usage pattern—Level 1 simply cannot keep up.

The "Just Plug It In" Approach

Many experienced EV owners adopt the simplest possible strategy: plug in every time you park at home, with the charge limit set to 80% and a smart charger handling the off-peak scheduling. This approach:

• Ensures you always have a nearly full battery for unexpected trips
• Requires zero thought or planning
• Keeps the battery in a healthy state of charge range
• Takes advantage of off-peak rates automatically
• Has no meaningful negative impact on battery longevity

Think of it like your phone: you probably plug it in every night even if it is at 50%. The convenience of always having a full charge outweighs any marginal battery impact.

When to Charge to 100%

There are valid reasons to charge to 100% occasionally:

• Road trips: Charge to 100% the night before to maximize your starting range.
• LFP batteries: If your EV uses a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery (some Tesla Model 3/Y, BYD models), the manufacturer may recommend charging to 100% regularly. LFP chemistry handles full charges much better than NMC chemistry.
• Battery calibration: Charging to 100% occasionally (once a month or so) helps the battery management system recalibrate its state-of-charge estimates.

The Bottom Line on Charging Frequency

Do not overthink it. Modern EV batteries are robust and designed for daily use. The best strategy is the one you will actually follow consistently:

1. Set your charge limit to 80% for daily use
2. Set your smart charger to charge during off-peak hours
3. Plug in whenever convenient
4. Charge to 100% only before road trips or if you have an LFP battery
5. Enjoy not visiting gas stations

Use our EV charging time calculator to see exactly how long it takes to charge your specific vehicle from any starting percentage to your target level.