Electric Car Night Tariff: Home Charging Guide to the Three-Time Tariff (2026)
Does it make sense to charge your electric car on the night tariff instead of in the evening? We explain the time bands of the three-time tariff, how many kWh fit into the 8-hour window between 22:00 and 06:00, how to switch to the tariff, and practical ways to shift charging to the night hours.
Most electric car owners plug in their car as soon as they get home in the evening. It may feel like the most natural habit, but these hours fall into the peak band of the three-time electricity tariff, when electricity is at its most expensive. Yet you could draw the same energy a few hours later, once the night tariff starts, and the car would still be ready in the morning.
In this guide, we take a plain-language look at the electric car night tariff: What is the three-time tariff, how do its time bands work, who benefits from switching to night charging, how many kWh fit into the 8-hour night window, and what can you do to shift charging to the night hours?
What is the three-time tariff?
In Turkey, residential customers can be billed for electricity in two ways: the single-time tariff, where the same unit price applies at every hour of the day, or the multi-time (three-time) tariff, where different unit prices apply at different times of day. Under the three-time tariff, the day is split into three bands:
| Band | Time range | Price level |
|---|---|---|
| Day | 06:00 – 17:00 | Medium |
| Peak | 17:00 – 22:00 | Highest |
| Night | 22:00 – 06:00 | Lowest |
Because unit prices are updated periodically by EPDK, we don't quote per-kuruş figures in this article. You can find current prices on your electricity bill, on your supplier's website or in the tariff tables published by EPDK. The rule that doesn't change is this: the night band is the cheapest and the peak band is the most expensive.
Why is the night tariff such a good fit for electric cars?
It's hard to change when most household appliances are used; dinner gets cooked in the evening and the lights go on in the evening. An electric car is different: it's parked all night anyway and usually doesn't move until morning. So as long as the car is ready in the morning, it makes little difference to the driver when the charging actually happens.
That makes the electric car one of the largest household loads that can be shifted to the night hours. A single charge means tens of kWh of energy; drawing that energy in the night band instead of the peak band directly changes its impact on your bill.
Who is it right for?
- People who park their car at home overnight: This is the group that benefits most from the night tariff.
- People with a steady daily mileage: A short top-up charge every night fits comfortably into the night window.
- Households that can also run other large loads at night: If you can also shift appliances such as the washing machine and dishwasher to the night band, the savings grow.
Who needs to do the math carefully?
- People who charge their car at home during the day: For example, if you work from home and charge the car around midday, the day price is what counts.
- Households with very high evening consumption: Under the three-time tariff, all household consumption during peak hours is billed at a higher price. Dinner, heating, TV and lighting all fall into this band. Be sure to calculate the overall impact on your bill based on your own usage.
How many kWh fit into the 8-hour night window?
The night band runs from 22:00 to 06:00, for 8 hours. The energy you can deliver to the car in that time is roughly the charging power multiplied by the duration. The table below shows the theoretical upper limits; the real figure will be somewhat lower depending on losses, the car's charging acceptance and the battery's state of charge.
| Charging power | Typical connection | Theoretical energy in 8 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kW | Single-phase, 16A | ~28 kWh |
| 7.4 kW | Single-phase, 32A | ~59 kWh |
| 11 kW | Three-phase, 16A | ~88 kWh |
| 22 kW | Three-phase, 32A | ~176 kWh |
The takeaway from the table: For everyday use, you don't need very high power for night charging. For example, a car that is driven 50 km a day and uses about 16 kWh per 100 km consumes roughly 8 kWh of energy a day. Even a 3.5 kW charge can replace that in just a few hours of the night band. 7.4 kW leaves a margin well beyond daily needs.
One point to keep in mind: the AC power that can be delivered to the car is limited by what the car's on-board charger can accept. A 22 kW charger will not charge a car that accepts 11 kW on AC at 22 kW. To calculate the charging time for your own car, take a look at our guide How to Calculate Electric Car Charging Time.
How do you switch to the three-time tariff?
The process is usually simple, although the details may vary depending on your region and your supplier:
- Check your meter: The three-time tariff requires an electronic meter that can record each time band separately. With older mechanical meters, the meter usually has to be replaced first.
- Submit your application: You apply to your electricity supplier for the tariff change. Many suppliers accept this application through customer service, service centers or online channels.
- Keep track of the switch date: Confirm with your supplier from which meter-reading period the new tariff will apply, and check your consumption by band on your first bill.
Before applying, we recommend looking at the total consumption on your last few bills and at your evening usage habits. If you're unsure, the best course is to ask your supplier about the conditions for switching between tariffs.
Factor in the annual consumption limit too
As of 2026, an annual consumption limit of 4,000 kWh applies to residential customers. According to statements reported in the press, the previous year's consumption is used as the basis for this limit, and customers who exceed it are moved to the last resort supply tariff.
If you charge an electric car at home, this limit matters to you. For example, a car driven 15,000 km a year that uses about 16 kWh per 100 km needs roughly 2,400 – 2,600 kWh of energy a year including losses. Together with the household's other consumption, this total may approach or exceed the limit. Because the limit, tariffs and pricing conditions can change, you should follow the current situation through your supplier and EPDK announcements. If you're curious about the cost side of home charging in general, you can also read our article The Cost of Charging at Home.
How do you shift charging to the night hours?
The only condition for benefiting from the night tariff is that charging actually starts after 22:00. There are a few practical ways to make sure of that:
1. Use the car's built-in timer
On many electric cars, you can set a charging start time or a target departure time from the car's screen or the manufacturer's mobile app. You plug in the cable in the evening and the car starts charging at the time you set. The name of this feature and how it works vary by model; check your car's owner's manual.
2. Manage it from the charger's app
With chargers that support a mobile app, you can start and stop charging from your phone. On WiseCar's WTL 7.4 kW Single-Phase and WTL 22 kW models, you can use the WiseCar mobile app to start and stop charging remotely, adjust the amperage and track your charging costs by entering your electricity tariff. Daily, weekly and monthly usage reports make it easy to see at what times your charging sessions took place after switching to the night tariff.
If you're looking for a portable solution, WiseCar Facile offers timing and scheduling via its mobile app.
3. Adjust the power to your needs
Because the night window is long, you don't have to charge at maximum power. Lowering the amperage can help spread charging more evenly across the night, which in turn helps your wiring cope more comfortably alongside the other loads in the home.
4. Set your morning target
For everyday use, you may not need to charge the battery to 100% every night. Using the daily charge limit recommended by your car's manufacturer both eases the load on the night window and gives you a consistent routine in terms of battery habits. We cover this topic in detail in our article What Is the 80% Rule?.
Safety and wiring for night charging
Night charging means a load that runs uninterrupted for hours, and it usually happens while you're asleep. That makes a proper installation even more important:
- Dedicated circuit: The charger should have its own circuit, with a suitable circuit breaker and residual current protection.
- Earthing: Regular night charging should not be done on wiring whose earthing has not been measured.
- Be careful with extension cords: Thin, household-type extension cords can heat up under continuous load.
- Professional installation: In the provinces where it is available, you can use the WiseCar installation service.
WTL models feature a multi-layer protection system covering overcurrent, overvoltage and undervoltage, overtemperature and residual current protection, and have an IP65 protection rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate tariff for electric cars?
For home subscriptions, there is no separate residential tariff specifically for electric cars; the existing single-time or multi-time tariffs are used instead. The way to benefit from night charging is to switch your subscription to the multi-time tariff and charge during the night band.
What time does the night tariff start?
Under the three-time tariff, the night band starts at 22:00 and ends at 06:00.
What happens if I start charging at 21:00?
Energy drawn until 22:00 is billed at the peak rate, and energy drawn after 22:00 is billed at the night rate. To have the entire charge billed at the night price, you need to set the start time to 22:00.
Is switching to the night tariff always cheaper?
Not always. Your total bill depends on which bands your household's consumption falls into. If your home's evening consumption is very high, that portion is billed at the peak price. We recommend doing the math based on your own usage.
Does the night tariff apply if I charge from a shared meter in an apartment building?
The tariff that applies depends on the tariff of the meter the charger is connected to. If you're supplied from a common-area meter, this should be discussed with the building management and the supplier.
Conclusion
Charging your electric car on the night tariff is one of the most practical ways to cut costs with a small change in habit. Your car is already parked overnight; all you need to do is switch to the right tariff and make sure charging starts after 22:00. The 8-hour night window covers most daily needs even at moderate power levels such as 3.5 kW or 7.4 kW.
If you're looking for a solution that makes night charging easy to manage and lets you track your consumption and charging costs, you can explore WiseCar products or get support from the WiseCar Call Center at 444 999 1.
Sources
- BirGün – The new electricity tariff limit in 11 questions
- Yeni Akit – What time does the electricity night tariff start?
This content is for general information purposes only. Tariff hours, unit prices, consumption limits and switching conditions may change according to EPDK decisions and suppliers' practices. Contact your electricity supplier for up-to-date information.
