As DC fast chargers roll out and network operators scramble to ‘make hay while the sun shines’ – i.e. before there is enough competition to keep prices at competitive levels – it is sobering to see what is currently happening in the UK regarding DC fast-charger kWh pricing.
A recent report from the UK’s What Car? organisation shows EV owners can pay a significant premium for the fastest DC chargers over home kWh pricing.
As seen in the table below, (all pricing converted to $A rates) a 10 – 80% charge for a 64kWh Hyundai Kona electric could in the UK cost almost $60 (Ionity) or $17.47 (Polar Plus) – both at the fastest charge rate for the Kona!
In comparison, on a $0.20 domestic off-peak electricity rate – that same charge would only cost $8.96.
(Editor’s note: see also our article on outrage in Norway on Ionity price increases)
| Network | Cost per kWh ($A equivalents at time of writing) |
10-80% charge for a 64kWh Kona |
| Ionity (350kW) | $1.33 | $59.58 |
| Polar Contactless (150kW) | $0.79 | $35.39 |
| Shell Recharge (50kW, 150kW) | $0.77 | $34.50 |
| Instavolt (50kW to 125kW) | $0.69 | $30.91 |
| Polar Instant (150kW) | $0.69 | $30.91 |
| Genie Point (43kW, 50kW) | $0.59 | $26.43^ |
| ESV EV Solutions (43kW, 50kW) | $0.49 | $21.95< |
| Charge Your Car*** (43kW, 50kW) | $0.49/min | $36.75* |
| Ubitricity (5.5kW AC) | $0.39 | $17.77> |
| Polar Plus (150kW) | $0.39 | $17.47 |
| Ecotricity domestic customers (AC) | $0.37 | $16.58 |
| Polar Plus (43kW, 50kW) | $0.30 | $13.44** |
| Source London Flexi (22kW) | $0.24 | $10.75*** |
| Comparison domestic tariff | $0.20 | $8.96 |
Notes to table:
^ includes $1.97 fee per charge;
< $7.88 monthly fee;
* at 50kW charge rate;
> $19.68 monthly fee, plus $0.30 per charge;
** $15.46 monthly fee;
*** $19.70 sign-up fee.
As What Car?’s editor, Steve Huntingford, commented: “Although there are still a lot of slow (3kW AC) public charging points that are free to use, you’ll have to pay if you want a quick energy fix. And this is where the costs can rack up if you don’t research the various networks in advance.”
Hopefully, here in Australia, we won’t see such a level of price gouging … provided suitable EV policy is developed and implemented in time.
Given Australia is well behind in EV uptake levels as compared to more EV developed nations, it is a salient warning for the need for governments to monitor overseas trends (as seen here) and develop proper EV policies well before such impediments to EV adoption occur.
