In short: when it comes to off-peak EV charging in Belgium, the worst time to charge, wherever you live, is the early evening (17:00–22:00). In Wallonia, since 1 January 2026, off-peak hours run from 22:00 to 07:00 and from 11:00 to 17:00, every day. In Flanders, what counts is your peak demand: it is best to charge overnight at moderate power. In Brussels, the classic dual-rate tariff still applies: overnight from 22:00 to 07:00 and at weekends. A smart charger only needs to be programmed once.
Why charging time affects your bill
Your electricity bill includes the price of energy, but also network charges (distribution and transmission). The regions increasingly vary these charges according to when you consume, to relieve the grid at peak times. An electric car is a household's largest ‘shiftable’ load: charging it at the right time really pays off.
Wallonia: new tariffs since 1 January 2026
Since 1 January 2026, there have been three options in Wallonia.
| Option | Time slots | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| Single-rate | Time slotsOne rate, at any time | What you need to knowNothing changes |
| Dual-rate | Time slotsOff-peak hours: 22:00–07:00 and 11:00–17:00, every day | What you need to knowThe same slots apply from Monday to Sunday: weekends are no longer entirely off-peak |
| Tarif Impact (optional) | Time slotsECO: 01:00–07:00 and 11:00–17:00 · MEDIUM: 07:00–11:00 and 22:00–01:00 · PIC (peak): 17:00–22:00 | What you need to knowRequires a smart meter with the communication function activated |
If you stay on single-rate or dual-rate, the new slots apply automatically. For the Tarif Impact, you need to request it from your supplier. You can ask your network operator (ORES or RESA, for example) for a smart meter free of charge: all Walloon meters have to be replaced by the end of 2029 in any case.
Our advice in Wallonia: schedule charging overnight, after 01:00 if you are on the Tarif Impact, and make use of the 11:00–17:00 slot if the car is at home during the day. Avoid 17:00–22:00 at all costs: with the Tarif Impact, charging during the peak can push up your bill.
Flanders: the capacity tariff
Since 2023, part of your network charges in Flanders has depended on your monthly peak: the highest average power you drew over a quarter of an hour during the month. A minimum of 2.5 kW is always counted.
In practice, charging at 11 kW while the oven, the dishwasher and the heat pump are running pushes up that peak, and with it the bill for the whole month. To avoid this:
- charge overnight, when the rest of the house is using little;
- limit the charging power: slower but longer charging is almost always enough over one night;
- use a charger with dynamic load balancing, which reduces charging when the house is using a lot. See our article on dynamic load balancing.
Brussels: the classic dual-rate tariff, for now
In Brussels, there is no capacity tariff and there are no incentive time slots in 2026. If you have a dual-rate meter:
- off-peak hours run from 22:00 to 07:00 on weekdays;
- weekends count as off-peak.
The Brussels regulator, Brugel, is planning more incentive-based pricing in the coming years, but the dual-rate structure remains unchanged for the 2025-2027 period. A programmable charger will let you adapt without changing equipment.
Off-peak EV charging in Belgium: summary by region
| Region | Best times | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Wallonia | Best times22:00–07:00 (ideally after 01:00 with the Tarif Impact) and 11:00–17:00 | Avoid17:00–22:00 |
| Flanders | Best timesOvernight, at moderate power | AvoidCharging hard when the house is already using a lot |
| Brussels | Best times22:00–07:00 and weekends (dual-rate) | Avoid07:00–22:00 on weekdays |
How to schedule your charging
Three options, from the most convenient to the simplest:
- The smart charger: you set time slots and a departure time in the app. It is the most reliable solution, and the one we install: smart charging is included in all our installations.
- The car: most electric cars let you set a charging start time.
- The energy contract: some suppliers offer contracts whose price varies by the hour. These can make overnight charging even more attractive, provided you fully understand how they work.
For a charger programmed for your region and your contract, request your quote via the configurator.