Skip advert
Advertisement

Cost of electric car rapid charging rises 58% in eight months

The average pay-as-you-go rate at a public rapid charger is now 70.32p/kWh due to rising wholesale electricity prices

Rapid charger

The price of rapid charging an electric car has increased 58 per cent in the last eight months, shocking new data reveals.

The average pay-as-you-go rate at a public rapid charger is now 70.32p/kWh, up from 44.55p in May 2022 and from 63.29p in September 2022, with the cost increases having been driven by rising wholesale electricity prices.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The figures from RAC Charge Watch show that it now costs an average of £36 to rapid charge a typical family EV’s 64kWh battery from zero to 80 per cent capacity – enough for around 188 miles of range. This is more than double the cost of doing the same charge on a 7kW home charger, which would cost £17.87 despite record-high domestic energy prices.

There are many reasons an EV driver may rely on the public rapid charger network, such as not having a charger at home or needing to make a long journey. These drivers are paying an average of 20p per mile they drive – the same as diesel car drivers – while petrol owners only pay 17p per mile.

The RAC and campaign group FairCharge have expressed their concerns that the high cost of buying and running an electric car, combined with the cost of living crisis, could result in people sticking with their existing petrol and diesel vehicles.

Both organisations have called on the Government to cut the VAT rate charged on electricity bought at public EV chargers from 20 per cent to five per cent – the rate domestic energy users pay. This would see the cost of rapid charging fall by 8.79p to 61.53p/kWh.

RAC EV spokesperson Simon Williams 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.”

Founder of the FairCharge campaign Quentin Willson added: “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.”

Click here for our list of the best electric cars on sale right now...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Nissan Leaf for under £140 a month is bargain electric motoring
Nissan Leaf - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Nissan Leaf for under £140 a month is bargain electric motoring

It may be getting on a bit, but the Leaf still represents simple – and cheap – electric motoring. It’s our Deal of the Day for 3 February
News
3 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: new Ford Capri looks a lot less controversial at this price
Ford Capri - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: new Ford Capri looks a lot less controversial at this price

Rebooted Seventies classic is now an electric SUV for a low monthly outlay. It’s our Deal of the Day for 5 February
News
5 Feb 2025
Vauxhall Corsa Yes Edition gets a price hike, but it’s still cheap-as-chips
Vauxhall Corsa Yes Edition - front

Vauxhall Corsa Yes Edition gets a price hike, but it’s still cheap-as-chips

The petrol Vauxhall Corsa Yes Edition now starts from £18,995, while the electric version comes in at £27,495
News
5 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts