Next Drive Smart tariff and app support.
Get connected to the E.ON Next Home app and unlock automated, low-cost EV charging with Next Drive Smart.
Next Drive Smart is our cheapest EV tariff.
On the Next Drive Smart tariff, you’ll enjoy one of the UK’s lowest off-peak rates for EV charging, with no exit fees and the ability to schedule charging automatically through our E.ON Next Home app.
Why do I need the E.ON Next Home app?
To benefit from this smart time-of-use tariff, you will need to download the E.ON Next Home app, register and connect your EV and charger, and then set your preferences. Once you’ve done that, we do the rest by automatically smart charging your vehicle at the cheapest hours.
Just remember to plug your EV in and the longer it’s plugged in, the more low-cost hours we have to pick from in order to charge your vehicle, ready for the time your set that you want it charged by!
The benefits of connecting to the app.
Cheaper rates.
Set your preferences, then let us control your charging and you'll be rewarded with cheaper rates.
Hassle-free charging.
Once you’re connected and have set your preferences in the app, we smart charge your EV automatically at the cheapest hours
No need to worry.
Don’t worry if there is an emergency, you can always use our ‘Boost’ feature to charge immediately.
View your charging stats.
Access your entire charging history and future plans at a glance.
See your energy use in real time.
View your charging status and rates, plus overviews of the savings you’ve made.
How to get your EV connected to E.ON Next Home.
Download the app.
Download E.ON Next Home for your device, and register your account. Sign in with your E.ON Next details, or create an account if it's your first time.
Connect your EV and charger.
We'll take you through, step-by-step, on how to find and connect to your car and charger. It's easy, like pairing headphones (but smarter).
We take care of the charging.
Ready to set your first smart charging schedule? It's simple, just tell us when you need your car ready and your maximum charge level. We’ll handle the rest, charging your car at the cheapest rate.
How to connect to our E.ON Next Home app.
In this video we'll show you how you can connect your electric vehicle so you can start saving with smart charging. You can also download our PDF user guide.
Getting started with the Next Home app.
1Plug your car in at home.
Make sure your EV is plugged in when starting the test charge.
If you run into issues, and your EV is plugged in, keep it like this for 20 minutes then try again (and make sure to follow the other tips below).
2Ensure your EV's location settings are turned on.
Please make sure that location sharing is allowed and enabled in your EV. In most EV's you can check these in your:
EV's manufacturers mobile app.
EV's infotainment console.
Some vehicle manufacturers require the creation of an account with them before it is possible to share vehicle location.
3Deactivate any charging schedules in other apps or devices.
Make sure you have no conflicting charging schedules in you EV manufacturers app.
Make sure the charger is set to charge when plugged in.
4Make sure your vehicle's firmware is up to date.
Sometimes issues can be caused by outdated software. For the smoothest experience, please ensure that you are using the most recent version of the Next Home app and that your EV's firmware is also up to date.
5Put your charger in manual mode.
We will send charging commands to your EV to control its charging. Upon receiving notification to start charging, your EV will attempt to draw charge from the charger.
If your charger has a schedule on it, and your car requests charge outside of this schedule, the charger may not provide the charge and your car won't be able to charge as needed. To prevent this from happening ensure your charger is in manual mode (different brands have different names for this). Sometimes it is called "Fast" or "Charge on plug in".
Rest assured, any smart charging scheduled outside of the off-peak window by Next Home will still be billed at the off-peak rate.
6All set for smart charging.
Once you connect your EV and set your preferences in our E.ON Next Home app (Schedule must be set to ‘active’), leave the smart charging to us. We’ll control your charging automatically, so you’ll benefit from cheaper rates day and night.
You choose when you want your car charged by and we’ll handle the optimal charging times at the cheapest rates - as long as you’re EV is plugged in! And, if we charge your car during the day, your whole home gets the same cheap rate.
Take advantage of daytime charging at off-peak rates, just make sure your car is plugged-in, then your whole home electricity will be charged at the cheaper rate, so you pay less.
Get used to plugging-in little and often (e.g. just like plugging in your mobile phone) to get the cheaper rates, and remember, there’s always the ‘Boost’ feature for emergencies.
Troubleshooting.
Why is my EV's status not updating in the Next Home app?
Please make sure that location sharing is allowed and enabled in your EV. Most EV's enable you to check these in your:
EV Manufacturers mobile app.
EV's infotainment console.
No device associated with the car manufacturer account.
One way to check this is to log in to your EV manufacturer's app and ensure your car is registered to the correct EV manufacturer account.
Make sure your EV's battery has the capacity for a schedules to be created.
You'll need to have a bit of space in your battery, the best way to do this is to drive around until the battery reduces to 90% - 95% charge.
If you have a battery limit set on your EV, you can simply increase the battery limit, which can be done in most manufacturers' apps or the infotainment console.
Your EV is not connected to the internet.
Please check your EV's 4G/Wi-Fi and make sure this is switched on. You can do this by looking at your manufacturer’s app.
We also suggest ensuring your mobile device is connected to the internet and using the latest version of the Next Home app.
Why are we moving towards smart charging.
Cost savings: Lower energy rates during off-peak times are passed to customers that are connected to our app and when plugged in.
Grid management: Prevents grid overload by lowering consumption during high-demand periods.
Less hassle for customers: Once you have set your preferences in the app and are plugged in, the smart charging manages the charging process at the most effective times automatically.
Sustainability: Increases the use of renewable energy by aligning charging with peak production times. It also balances the load, by efficiently managing power for vehicles charging at the same time.
Registration help by EV make.
Audi
To help get you registered, we need to make sure your car's location services are turned on. This allows your car to communicate properly and helps you get started with Smart charging.
Here's how to enable location services:
Step 1: In your car's infotainment system
Go to Settings.
Find the Privacy menu.
Look for the Online services section.
Turn on both "Use vehicle position" and "Share vehicle position."
Step 2: On the myAudi website
Log in to your account on myaudi.com.
Go to the "Features" (or "Functions") section.
Click on "Function overview."
Then, select the "Remote & Control" section.
Make sure "Car finder" (or "Park position") is enabled.
Also, ensure that "Share GPS position" is turned on directly below it.
Once you've enabled these settings, please try the registration process again. If you continue to have trouble, see ways to get in touch below
BMW/Mini
To help get you registered, we need to make sure your car's location services are turned on. This allows your car to communicate properly and helps you get started with Smart charging.
To enable GPS Positioning in your vehicle, please see this tutorial from BMW.
Once you've enabled these settings, please try the registration process again. If you continue to have trouble, see ways to get in touch below.
Mercedes
Eligibility.
Not all models of Mercedes are currently eligible for the Next Drive Smart tariff (and registration in our E.ON Next Home app), so please use our eligibility checker here: Check if Next Drive Smart works for you.
Registering your Mercedes to the E.ON Next Home app.
For those that are eligible, to register your Mercedes EV in our E.ON Next Home app, you’ll need to do the following:
Your EV needs to be unplugged before starting the connection process in the E.ON Next Home app.
You can now start the registration and connection process in the E.ON Next Home app. You will need to enter your Mercedes VIN number (and exact odometer reading) as part of the initial registration.
Your EV then needs plugging in at home to confirm the initial connection works - you’ll be prompted to do this in the app.
You will now need to unplug your EV in order to complete the connection.
Now your car should be registered and connected in the E.ON Next Home app.
Once your car is registered in the app you will need to once again plug your EV back in and start an initial charge. Please note, if you do not complete this first charge at home, the GPS location of your EV will be set incorrectly and we will not be able to control your smart charging when charging at home.
Your EV should now be registered and set-up.
Check in the app that your schedule is on/active and go and set your preferences for charging levels and time (ensure these settings in the E.ON Next Home app match those set on your EV, otherwise your EV settings will override these).
Important - Smart charging in the E.ON Next Home app.
Some Mercedes models have a pre-set minimum state of charge (SoC) for the battery level, for example some may be set at 0% and some all the way up to 50%. Unfortunately, we are not able to start smart charging the battery through our E.ON Next Home app, until you are past this minimum SoC.
Due to Mercedes pre-setting this minimum battery SoC on some models, if you plug-in your EV ready for smart charging, when your battery is below your minimum set SoC, then your EV will start charging immediately and you may incur higher peak rates at these times. Past the minimum SoC, smart charging will correctly start only at the off-peak times.
Minimum and maximum state of charge set on Mercedes.
EQA / EQB and all other Mercedes Models older than 2024.
If your vehicle’s minimum charge limit is 50%, then your vehicle automatically begins charging up to 50% as soon as it’s plugged in, before smart charging can begin.
To avoid unexpected / peak charging costs:
Wait until off-peak times before plugging in.
Plug in, only when your battery is already 50% or above to benefit from smart charging schedules.
Manually change your minimum battery capacity on your EV.
All other Mercedes models.
Your vehicle prioritises its own minimum charge limit, over that set in the E.ON Next Home app. If your battery is below this limit when plugged in, it will start charging immediately, overriding your smart charging schedule.
To avoid unexpected / peak charging costs:
Wait until off-peak times before plugging in.
Plug in, only when your battery is already at or above your minimum SoC, to benefit from smart charging schedules.
Manually change your minimum battery capacity on your EV.
Maximum State of Charge for all models.
Your vehicle prioritises its own maximum charge setting. Once your battery reaches this limit, charging will automatically stop, overriding any higher smart schedule target or manual boost.
To ensure your vehicle reaches your target charge:
Align your charge targets: Ensure your smart schedule target in the E.ON Next Home app and your vehicle's maximum charge setting are matching e.g. Both set at 90%.
Note: If you need a higher limit, you can manually adjust your car's maximum charge limit, you can do this in its infotainment system or manufacturer’s app.
Instructions for setting the Minimum or Maximum SoC.
Open the Mercedes me app.
Go to Vehicle (or the home screen showing the car).
Tap Charging or Charge Settings.
Look for a setting called something like:
“Minimum charge level”.
“Battery reserve”.
“Maximum state of charge”.
Adjust the slider all the way down to 0% or up to 90%.
Save / confirm changes.
Additional hints and tips for Mercedes drivers:
Location setting.
If onboarding doesn't complete after multiple plug-in and unplug attempts, it's worth verifying that location sharing is enabled. You can find this setting in the vehicle menu under:
Settings → System → Bluetooth & Wi-Fi → Transmit Vehicle Position
Nissan
To help get you registered, you'll need to make sure you are subscribed to NissanConnect services. Please do this using the Nissan app. Android and iOS.
NissanConnect services enable the following capabilities:
Remote control services: Vehicle location.
Driving history & analysis: Vehicle mileage counter.
Remote battery management: Battery information (such as battery level) and start/stop charging.
Read more about the different packages.
Once you have subscribed to NissanConnect services, please try the registration process again. If you continue to have trouble, see ways to get in touch below.
SEAT
To help get you registered, you'll need to make sure you are subscribed to SEAT Connect. You can do this ON the SEAT website.
Once you have subscribed to SEAT Connect, please try the registration process again. If you continue to have trouble, see ways to get in touch below.
Tesla
All Teslas (except Model S and X from before 2021, or if you lease your EV) require a virtual key to be created by the driver so we can send charging commands to the car.
When you are onboarding your Tesla, at the virtual key step, select "Add virtual key" and follow the instructions in the Tesla app (you will be automatically redirected).
Once you have created the virtual key, you will need to return to the Next Connect app to continue the onboarding process.
Please note: to create a virtual key you must have the Tesla app installed on your mobile phone and have created a phone key.
Volkswagen
To help get you registered, you'll need to make sure you you have a VW Connect/We Connect account, and have accepted the terms and conditions in the "VW app. You'll also need to set yourself up as the primary user in your vehicle.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Set Up Your Primary User in Your VW Vehicle
To allow your car to communicate with the app, you need to be signed in as the primary user directly in your vehicle's infotainment system.
Access Infotainment System: Turn on your car and access its central screen (infotainment system).
Navigate to Users: Look for a "Users" menu within the system.
Add Primary User: Select the option to "Add Primary User."
Sign In: Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in with your VW Connect/We Connect account details.
Step 2: Subscribe to VW Connect in the VW app
The customer needs to create a VW account, accept terms and conditions in the VW app (Android, iOS), and subscribe to the relevant We Connect services.
Customers can subscribe to either We Connect or We Connect Plus. See the Video Guide.
Step 3: Activate charging online services
Once you have subscribed to VW connect, you may need to activate the required online services in the app.
Within the VW app, navigate to the vehicle settings page.
From here navigate to the Mobile Online Services settings menu.
Within this menu locate and activate the “Charging” option.
Once you have this sorted, please start the registration process again. If you continue to have trouble, see ways to get in touch below.
All other makes
To ensure your electric vehicle is ready for smart charging, please follow these general steps:
Step 1: Check In-Car connectivity & location settings and updates.
Turn on your EV and navigate to the main screen or menu.
Look for an icon or menu option typically labeled Settings, System, Privacy, Connectivity, or similar.
Within the settings, locate options related to Location Services, GPS, Vehicle Position, or Data Sharing.
Ensure that settings like Use vehicle position, Share vehicle position, GPS, or Location Data are turned ON. This allows your car to communicate its location.
Look for sections related to Data Sharing, Online Services, or Privacy. Confirm that sharing of vehicle data, especially for connected services, is enabled.
Refer to your car's manual or infotainment system for instructions on checking and installing the latest software updates for your vehicle.
Step 2: Verify or subscribe to Connected Services
Ensure your car brand's mobile app is updated to its latest version from your app store.
Identify your car's connected service platform: Most EV manufacturers have a dedicated app or online portal for their connected services.
Get the official mobile app for your car brand (from your mobile device's app store) or visit their dedicated connected services website. Once you’re sorted, create an account, or log in if you already have one.
Ensure you are subscribed to the appropriate service(s) that enable remote control, vehicle location, battery management, and data communication. These are often required for smart charging.
In some cases you may need to activate specific options in your vehicle manufacturer’s app settings menu when you subscribe to these services.
Once you have this sorted, please start the registration process again. If you continue to have trouble, see ways to get in touch below.
A day in the life with Next Drive Smart.
Discover how Next Drive Smart transforms Jesse's daily routine and saves her money.
What makes this different?
Fixed window (Midnight - 6am): Charge your car overnight for just 8p per kWh. And the best part? Your whole home enjoys the same lower rate during that time too.
Smart bonus slots: If the app schedules your car to charge outside of that midnight – 6am window (because the grid is extra cheap), your entire house still gets the 8p rate for the duration of that charging slot.
Standard rate: When you're not in a cheap window, you pay the standard rate. So remember to move energy-hungry tasks like laundry and the dishwasher to your bonus slots, and save. If you take manual control of charging using "Boost" in the app during peak hours, you pay the full standard rate.
Key things to remember.
Your car must stay plugged in: Bonus slots only activate when your EV is connected, even if it's not charging.
It's fully automated: The app controls when to charge, so you can sit back and relax.
Whole home benefits: During cheap windows, your whole home energy costs 8p/kWh - not just your car.
Maximise your savings: Check the app for bonus slots and run high-energy appliances during those times.
A day in the life for Jessie.
See how Next Drive Smart works for Jessie. It finds extra bonus slots while her car is plugged in, giving her whole home cheaper electricity, not just for charging.
Time | Rate* | What Jessie is doing | Car status |
|---|---|---|---|
Midnight - 6am | 8p | Sleeping | Smart charging (Fixed Window). Home energy cheaper. |
7:30am | 33.122p | Heading off to work | Unplugged & Ready (80%) |
5:30pm | 33.122p | Jessie arrives home | Plugs in (App stays idle) |
7pm - 8.30pm | 8p | Watching TV & running the Dishwasher | Smart charging bonus slot. Home energy cheaper. |
8.30pm - midnight | 33.122p | Reading / Getting ready for bed | App pauses charging |
*Prices are an example and for illustration only.
Jessie's pro tip.
When Jessie saw a bonus slot start at 7pm, she knew her whole house was on the 8p rate. So, she popped a laundry load on to take advantage of the lower rate.
Jessie’s checklist after switching to Next Drive Smart.
She downloaded the E.ON Next Home app.
Deleted all charging schedules in her car providers app.
Connected her EV and set her charging preferences within the E.ON Next Home app.
Help with E.ON Next Home app.
Next Drive Smart FAQs.
First, try going to our Next Drive Smart FAQs, which can be found over at Next Drive Smart.
Support in the app.
Customers can contact support directly from within the app through the Account section. To access support options within the app:
Tap your customer initials/profile icon in the top left corner of the app.
Navigate to the Account section (top left)
Select Contact Us
Customers can choose from either ‘E.ON Next Support - email’ to email a query. Or select ‘E.ON Next tariff customers connecting their electric vehicle’ to complete a support form.
An E.ON Next specialist will call or email you back.
Contact us.
If you have an urgent question about connecting to our E.ON Next Home app, then you can email us at hi@eonnext.com or call 0808 501 5200.
Did it work?
If you have a spare moment, please provide your feedback. We're always looking for ways to improve and give you a better experience.
The legal bit.
1 Compared to our Next Drive tariff. Off-peak rates on the Next Drive Smart tariff are fixed at 8p/kWh between 12am-6am daily, applying to EV charging and whole home electricity use. Smart meter with half hourly consent required. You must have an eligible electric vehicle and charger. If you do not boost charge, you will always be charged at off-peak rate of 8p/KWh. Any boost charges or charging without using the smart charging feature during peak hours will be billed at the peak rate of 33.122p/kWh. Information correct at 15 October 2026. Terms and conditions apply.
2 Off-peak rates on the Next Drive Smart tariff are fixed at 8p/kWh between 12am-6am daily, applying to EV charging and whole home electricity use. Smart meter with half hourly consent required. You must have an eligible electric vehicle and charger. If you do not boost charge, you will always be charged at off-peak rate of 8p/KWh. Any boost charges or charging without using the smart charging feature during peak hours will be billed at the peak rate of 33.122p/kWh. Information correct at 15 October 2026. Terms and conditions apply.