Electric car charging fees on UK motorways to change

Ecotricity is replacing the £6 flat fee for for its 300-strong network of motorway EV chargers with a pay as you go structure

The UK's sole motorway charging provider for EVs is scrapping its £6 flat fee, and replacing it with a pay as you go pricing struture. 

Last year, Ecotricity introduced a £6 flat fee for a 30 minute charge on its 300 strong network of EV charging stations across the UK's motorway network. The company has now scrapped the flat fee rate and replaced it with a new pay as you go system. 

• Best electric cars on sale 2017

Electricity will now be charged at £0.17p per kWh, with an additional £3 fee everytime you plug your car in. The maximum amount of charging time has now also been increased from 30 to 45 minutes and the new rates will apply from 26 June onwards.  

In an e-mail, the company said: "The new model that we've developed will give more flexibility and typically lower charging costs across all makes and models. The main issue we've been wrestling with is the fixed time period charging and the different amounts of energy that various models can use in that time - coupled with the need to reflect in the pricing model the costs of installing and running the infrastructure, not just the energy." 

Electric car charging stations in the UK

"To better balance these issues we are separating the cost of energy from the cost of providing the service. The new energy will be charged at 17p per unit, which is pretty much the rate that people pay at home and the cost of providing the service will be via a £3 connection fee for all sessions." 

Ecotricity also said that its customers will still benefit from 52 free charges per year, and even after the free charges run out, won't face the £3 connection fee. 

Do you think it's fair to charge electric car drivers a flat-fee for charging use. Tell us in the comments below...

Get the latest electric car news, reviews and analysis on DrivingElectric.com

Recommended

Britishvolt electric car battery project enters administration
Britishvolt
News

Britishvolt electric car battery project enters administration

Additional funding fails to save the British gigafactory start-up, with majority of 300 staff to be made redundant
17 Jan 2023
No more BMW police cars: German brand halts sales to UK forces
BMW 3 Series police car
News

No more BMW police cars: German brand halts sales to UK forces

BMW is to prioritise sales to retail and corporate customers as supply chain issues continue to be felt
14 Jan 2023
Unmarked mobile speed camera van introduced by police
Speed camera van window
News

Unmarked mobile speed camera van introduced by police

Northamptonshire Police admits that the unmarked van is “unusual”, but argues it will reduce road deaths and injuries
12 Jan 2023
MPs consider 64mph national speed limit and Sunday car bans
Motorway speed limit
News

MPs consider 64mph national speed limit and Sunday car bans

The Environmental Audit Committee highlights 10-point plan for reducing oil dependency from European sustainable transport group
11 Jan 2023

Most Popular

No more BMW police cars: German brand halts sales to UK forces
BMW 3 Series police car
News

No more BMW police cars: German brand halts sales to UK forces

BMW is to prioritise sales to retail and corporate customers as supply chain issues continue to be felt
14 Jan 2023
Toyota GR86 vs BMW 230i: 2023 twin test review
Toyota GR86 and BMW 230i - front tracking
Car group tests

Toyota GR86 vs BMW 230i: 2023 twin test review

Rear-wheel-drive coupes go head to head as the new Toyota GR86 takes on the two-door BMW 230i
15 Jan 2023
Unmarked mobile speed camera van introduced by police
Speed camera van window
News

Unmarked mobile speed camera van introduced by police

Northamptonshire Police admits that the unmarked van is “unusual”, but argues it will reduce road deaths and injuries
12 Jan 2023