When's the greenest time to charge your EV?
See how much carbon each unit of electricity creates in your area over the next 24 hours, and the cleanest four hours to charge your car or run big appliances.
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| Time | g CO₂ per kWh | Level |
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Forecast from the Carbon Intensity API for Great Britain. Times are shown in your local time.
What the chart shows
Each bar is half an hour. Its height is the carbon intensity: the grams of carbon dioxide released to generate one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity in your region. The green bars mark the cleanest four hours in a row, and the bracket underneath shows the usual off-peak hours on EV tariffs.
Why it changes through the day
Great Britain's electricity comes from a changing mix of wind, solar, nuclear, imports and gas. When it's windy or sunny and demand is low, renewables cover more of the load and carbon intensity falls. In the early evening, when demand peaks, more gas power stations run and it rises.
The forecast is regional because generation and demand differ across the country. Scotland, with lots of wind, is often cleaner than the South East.
How to charge at the greenest times
- Schedule your charging. Most electric cars and smart chargers let you set a start time. Pick the green window on the chart.
- Use an EV tariff. Off-peak hours overnight are often low carbon as well as cheap, so you get both.
- Charge from solar. If you have solar panels, a charger like the Zappi can top up your car from spare solar during the day.
- Shift other big loads too. Dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers on a delay timer can run in the same window.
Want to know what charging costs? Our EV charging cost calculator compares home, public and petrol running costs. When you're ready for a charger, Select installs 7kW smart chargers across Tunbridge Wells, Kent and London. Find out more about our home EV charger installation.
Questions
What is the greenest time to charge an electric car?
It changes every day. The grid is usually cleanest when it's windy or sunny and demand is low, which often means overnight or the middle of a sunny day. It's usually dirtiest in the early evening, when demand peaks and more gas power stations run. The live forecast on this page shows the cleanest four hours for your area.
Is the greenest time to charge also the cheapest?
Often, but not always. EV tariffs are cheapest overnight, usually from 23:30 to 05:30, and those hours are frequently low carbon too. On sunny days the greenest hours can fall around midday, when you would pay your standard rate unless you have solar panels.
What does carbon intensity mean?
Carbon intensity is the amount of carbon dioxide released to generate one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity, measured in grams. The lower the number, the cleaner the electricity coming out of your sockets.
How accurate is the forecast?
It's a forecast based on expected weather and demand, so it can shift during the day. Check it shortly before you plan to charge for the most reliable picture.
Last updated 13 October 2026 by Select Mechanical and Electrical.
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