Cost of using public rapid EV chargers now more expensive per mile than petrol

The cost of using publicly accessible rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers has risen by 50% since May, new data from RAC Charge Watch shows.

It now costs an average of 70p per kilowatt hour to rapid charge on a pay-as-you-go basis, up from 44p last May and from 63p last September.

The rises, driven by increases in the wholesale cost of electricity, mean that drivers now pay £36 to charge a typical family-sized electric car with a 64kWh battery to its 80% rapid or ultra-rapid limit.

This, say RAC, is more than twice the cost of charging the same car at home despite the record high domestic energy prices.

And while very few drivers rely on the rapid or ultra-fast chargers on the public charging network for their everyday charging needs, the RAC’s analysis shows that drivers who use the rapid public charging network – typically because they need to recharge on a longer journey – currently pay a huge premium.

Indeed, it can be more expensive for an EV driver to recharge quickly on a longer journey than it is for a petrol and diesel drivers to refuel.

Drivers using rapid chargers now pay 20p per mile for their electricity, only a penny less than those using less common ultra-rapid chargers who pay 21p per mile.

These costs are higher than the equivalent per-mile rate for a petrol car that achieves an economy of 40 miles to the gallon (17p per mile) and are on a par with a diesel car achieving the same economy.

Despite a record number of new electric car registrations last month, the RAC together with campaign group FairCharge are concerned that the higher costs associated with EVs – including new car list prices as well as public rapid and ultra-rapid charging costs – risks dissuading drivers from opting for them over keeping their existing petrol and diesel vehicles, not least given the current cost-of-living crisis.

Both are reiterating their call – which is backed by several EV charge point operators – for the Government to cut the VAT rate charged on electricity bought at public EV chargers from 20% to 5%, mirroring the rate domestic energy users pay.

Doing so would see the cost of rapid charging falling by 9p per kilowatt hour.

RAC EV spokesperson Simon Williams said, “For drivers to switch to electric cars en masse, it’s vital that the numbers stack up and charging quickly has got to be as affordable as possible.

“It continues to be the case that those who can charge at home or at work and who don’t use the public rapid charging network very often get fantastic value – even given the relatively high domestic energy prices right now.

“Sadly, the same can’t be said for people who either can’t charge at home or at work, or who regularly make longer journeys beyond the range of their cars.

“Our concern is that the extremely high energy prices have the effect of putting people off using public EV chargers of all speeds altogether – something the Government must avoid if it expects charge point operators themselves to do the majority of the heavy lifting when it comes to installing more EV charging infrastructure.

“Cutting the level of VAT on electricity sold at public chargers to 5% to match what people pay at home would be one way of keeping prices under control and would show the Government remains committed to doing everything it can to get more drivers to go electric.”

Founder of the FairCharge campaign Quentin Willson said, “While affordable home charging remains a real incentive for British drivers to go electric, we remain concerned that the small but significant proportion of drivers without access to private parking are doubly disadvantaged by more expensive charging costs and an added tax burden.

“This archaic VAT policy means that those without home charging pay four times the rate of tax as those charging at home – the Government should set this right, not simply out of sheer unfairness but also to ensure public charging remains an affordable option for all drivers as we seek to bring down air pollution and decarbonise our roads.”