Image: DfT
The Government must do more to keep the price of charging electric vehicles under control, particularly for those who can’t do so at home, or risk harming the chances of seeing more drivers switch en masse.
That’s the verdict of the RAC, responding to data showing that the cost of using publicly accessible rapid and ultra-rapid chargers has risen significantly over the last eight months.
The data, from RAC Charge Watch, shows it now costs an average of 70.32p per kilowatt hour to rapid charge on a pay-as-you-go basis, up from 44.55p (58%) last May and from 63.29p (11%) last September.
The rises, which the RAC says are driven by further increases in the wholesale cost of electricity, mean that drivers now pay £36 to charge a typical family-sized electric car.
This is more than twice the cost of charging the same car at home, estimated to be just £17.87 – despite the record high domestic energy prices.
The RAC says those who use the rapid public charging network – typically because they need to recharge on a longer journey or because they can’t do so at home or work – currently pay a huge premium.
It has expressed concern that these higher costs risk dissuading drivers from opting for EVs over keeping their existing petrol and diesel vehicles.
The RAC is calling on 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, it says, would see the cost of rapid charging falling by 8.79p per kilowatt hour (to 61.53p).
Simon Williams, RAC EV spokesperson, said: “For drivers to switch to electric cars en masse, it’s vital that the numbers stack up. In time, the list price of new electric models will come down but charging quickly has also 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. There’s no question they have to pay far more, and in some cases more than petrol or diesel drivers do to fill up on a mile-for-mile basis.”
This viewpoint is supported by Quentin Willson, founder of the FairCharge campaign.
He 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.”
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