New figures show that the cost of using a public ultra-fast EV charger has risen by almost 50% in just eight months, while the price of fast charging has risen by a fifth.
From September to May, the average cost to quickly charge a 64 kWh battery, such as that of Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro, from 0 to 80% (fast charge limit) has risen from £ 17.51 to 26 , £ 10. an increase of 16.76 p per kWh.
Users of public fast chargers have seen an increase of 7.81p per kWh, from £ 18.81 to £ 22.81.
The RAC, which released the figures this morning, attributed the rise in prices to rising wholesale costs for electricity and gas.
In contrast, the cost of refilling a 55-liter family car with petrol from vacuum to 80% has risen by £ 14.54 over the same period, from £ 59.67 to £ 74.21.
RAC Electric Vehicle Spokesman Simon Williams said: “In the same way that the price paid by drivers of petrol and diesel cars for refueling at the pumps is driven by fluctuations in the world price of oil, those of electric cars are affected by the prices of gas and electricity.
“But while electric car drivers may not be immune to the rising price of wholesale energy, especially gas, which in turn dictates the cost of electricity, there is no doubt that charging an electric vehicle still represents excellent value for money compared to filling up with a petrol or diesel car. “
The breakdown company has now launched its Charge Watch initiative. Similar to his Fuel Watch, he monitors the average cost of charging an electric vehicle with a public charger to “make sure drivers are treated fairly.”
This supports its already launched Fair Charge campaign, which calls for lowering the 20% VAT rate currently charged on electricity to public chargers to match the 5% charged on domestic electricity.
This, the RAC said, will give better value to people who cannot charge their electric vehicle at home and push others to switch to electricity.