BYD's German arm and the utility E.ON have launched a home-charging incentive that pays drivers to let the grid choose when their car charges. The offer is called E.ON Home Charge. BYD's German product page says the regular bonus is EUR 0.12 for each eligible kWh charged in "Smart Laden" mode, and there is a one-time EUR 80 extra for eligible new E.ON customers who sign up through a partner page for BYD owners. The program starts in November 2026. The partners first announced it in September.
The deal is an early example of a carmaker and a utility sharing the value of flexible home charging with drivers. Below is what the sources say it pays, what you need to qualify, and what remains unconfirmed.
How the bonus works
The structure is simple. You plug your BYD into your home wallbox and turn on Smart Laden ("smart charging") in the Mein E.ON app, setting when you want to leave and what charge level you need by then. E.ON then plans when the car actually draws power within the available window. netzwelt's report on the September announcement likewise says E.ON controls the charge timing inside that window. Each kWh delivered in smart mode that meets the conditions earns the bonus.
BYD gives a worked example on its German page, as read in November 2026:
- Rate: EUR 0.12 per eligible smart-charged kWh (BYD Deutschland).
- Example volume: 2,000 smart-charged kWh a year.
- Example payout: EUR 240 a year, or about EUR 20 a month on average.
BYD adds a caveat in its own wording: the EUR 240 figure is "neither a guaranteed payout nor a cap" (in German, "weder eine garantierte Auszahlung noch eine Obergrenze"). What you actually earn depends on how much you charge and how you charge. Someone who charges in smart mode more than 2,000 kWh a year could earn more. Someone who often switches to immediate charging ("Sofort Laden"), which earns no smart-charging bonus according to BYD, or who drives little, would earn less. netzwelt, writing in September before the terms were published, described EUR 20 a month (EUR 240 a year) as the best case, which is a more conservative reading than BYD's own "not a cap" language.
The EUR 80 new-customer extra
On top of the per-kWh bonus, BYD's page lists a one-time EUR 80 extra bonus for eligible E.ON new customers who sign up through the E.ON partner page for BYD customers. According to BYD, the EUR 80 is:
- credited against the customer's first annual bill, and
- paid in addition to any new-customer bonus that comes with the chosen E.ON electricity tariff.
BYD's footnote and Notebookcheck (in a Nov. 2, 2026 report) both define "new customer" strictly: someone who was not an E.ON customer at that meter location in the six months before the order. BYD's footnote adds that the extra bonus lapses if the contract ends before the initial contract term is over, with an exception for cancellation after a price adjustment. If you switched away from E.ON recently and plan to switch back, check that condition before you count on the EUR 80. BYD says existing E.ON customers can use a separate existing-customer offer for the charging bonus, but the EUR 80 is reserved for new customers.
What you need to qualify
The BYD page and the Notebookcheck report agree on the core requirements:
- An eligible BYD. Notebookcheck says the tariff is rolling out for all fully electric BYD models and for the brand's super-hybrid models with DM technology. netzwelt's September report mentioned only fully electric models, so plug-in hybrid owners may want to confirm eligibility for their specific model. BYD advises checking vehicle compatibility before signing a tariff.
- A compatible E.ON tariff already being supplied, and a link between the car and the Mein E.ON app with Smart Laden switched on.
- A smart meter. BYD says ordering one is enough at first. Notebookcheck reports that, according to E.ON, a binding order is sufficient.
- A connected home wallbox. BYD says you don't need a special E.ON wallbox. Wallboxes from other makers can be used as long as the BYD itself is compatible.
Drivers who don't yet have a wallbox, or who need a meter changed, should have the hardware installed by a licensed electrician and follow the manufacturer's instructions. ChargerFeed does not give wiring or installation guidance.
Duration and total value
BYD's footnote says the regular bonus rate applies for 24 months after the first connection of the vehicle ("Erstkonnektierung"). Notebookcheck's headline says the bonus runs for at least 24 months and cites a total of up to EUR 560. That figure is two years of the EUR 240 example (EUR 480) plus the EUR 80 extra, and Notebookcheck says it assumes 4,000 kWh charged in smart mode over the two years. The EUR 560 total does not appear on BYD's German page; it is Notebookcheck's calculation, and it applies only to new customers who reach that charging volume.
What is not confirmed
Bidirectional charging is still a plan. Both Notebookcheck and netzwelt describe vehicle-to-grid (V2G) as a planned next step. netzwelt also lists more European markets, deeper app integration and a mixed-reality setup aid among future plans. None of these are part of the November launch.
What It Means for Drivers
Who can take part: BYD owners in Germany who charge at home on a compatible E.ON tariff, with a smart meter installed or on order and a compatible wallbox from any maker. netzwelt notes that people who already own a BYD can benefit too if they switch to E.ON. The offer is not limited to new car buyers.
What changes: while Smart Laden is on, E.ON rather than the driver plans when charging happens within the plugged-in window. In return, each eligible kWh earns EUR 0.12 under the terms BYD published for the November 2026 launch. If you need a full battery at short notice, the app offers immediate charging, but those kWh earn no smart-charging bonus.
When: the program starts in November 2026. Notebookcheck reported on Nov. 2 that the rollout is under way "ab sofort" (immediately). It also notes the launch coincides with BYD's Black Friday promotions running through November. V2G is announced but has no date in the sources.
The math to do first: the bonus is paid against an E.ON electricity contract, so the bonus alone doesn't tell you whether you'll come out ahead. netzwelt's reviewer advises comparing the total cost of the E.ON tariff with your current supplier, noting that another provider can be cheaper even without a bonus. A EUR 240 annual bonus can be cancelled out, or more than cancelled out, by a higher base price or per-kWh rate. Run the comparison on your own expected household and charging consumption before switching.
The smart-meter step: because ordering a smart meter is enough to start, according to BYD and, as quoted by Notebookcheck, E.ON, drivers don't have to wait for the meter to be installed before signing up. BYD says E.ON covers the meter installation cost under the offer terms. How long installation takes depends on the local metering operator. The sources don't give a timeline.
