The cost of ultra-fast charging of electric vehicles increases by almost 50% Car News

The cost of using a super-fast public EV charger has risen by nearly 50% in just eight months, according to new figures, while the price of fast charging has risen by a fifth.

From September to May, the average cost to ultra-fast charge a 64kWh battery, like that of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro, from 0 to 80% (the fast charge limit) rose from £17.51 at £26.10 – an increase of 16.76p per kWh.

Public fast charger users saw an increase of 7.81 pence per kWh, from £18.81 to £22.81.

The RAC, which released the figures this morning, blamed the rise in prices on rising wholesale electricity and gas prices.

By contrast, the cost of filling a 55 liter family car with 80% empty petrol increased by £14.54 over the same period, from £59.67 to £74.21 .

RAC spokesman for electric vehicles, Simon Williams, said: “Just as the price that drivers of petrol and diesel cars pay to fill up at the pump is determined by fluctuations in the world price of oil, those of electric cars are affected by gas and electricity prices.

“But while electric car drivers may not be immune to soaring wholesale energy prices – notably gas, which in turn dictates the cost of electricity – it does not no doubt that recharging an EV still represents excellent value for money compared to filling up a gas or diesel car.

The convenience store has just launched its Charge Watch initiative. Similar to its Fuel Watch, it monitors the average cost of charging an electric vehicle on a public charger to “ensure drivers get a fair deal.”

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% levied on household electricity.

This, the RAC said, will give people who cannot charge their electric vehicle at home better value and push others to go electric.