EV charging costs up 42% since May
26 September 2022 
The cost of charging an EV at a public charge point has increased by 42% since May, putting the cost of running an EV on a similar level to a petrol-engine vehicle on a per-mile basis, which could deter drivers from switching the RAC has warned.
According to the organisation, a family-sized electric car to 80% will now cost ￡32.41 to rapid charge, up ￡9.60 since May and ￡13.59 compared to a year ago. If a driver only uses rapid charge points, they will now be paying around 18p per mile, compared with 19p per mile for a petrol car and 21p per mile for a diesel car.
However for EV drivers that charge at home, the cost-per-mile is around 9p and the cost to charge a car to 80% adds up to the lower sum of￡17.87.
RAC EV spokesman Simon Williams said: “For those that have already made the switch to an electric car or are thinking of doing so, it remains the case that charging away from home costs less than refuelling a petrol or diesel car, but these figures show that the gap is narrowing as a result of the enormous increases in the cost of electricity. These figures very clearly show that it’s drivers who use public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers the most who are being hit the hardest.
“The Energy Price Guarantee benefits those drivers who are fortunate enough to charge their cars at home, but for those that rely on the public charging network, including those without driveways, it’s a much bleaker picture right now.”
Simon continued: “Last week, charge point operators got behind the RAC-backed FairCharge campaign in calling for the government to end the inequity that exists between drivers who can charge at home and those that cannot, by cutting the 20% VAT charged on electricity at public chargers to match the 5% domestic rate. The government needs to redouble its efforts in helping drivers to go electric if it is to meet its own net-zero transport objectives and levelling the public and domestic electricity VAT rates would show it is serious about doing so at a time when household budgets are getting ever tighter.”
Quentin Willson, founder of the FairCharge campaign, added: “With electricity costs up by an average of 140% on last year and the Government’s divisive VAT levy of 20% on public charging, EV adoption is under threat. This government needs to act on charging costs, cap rises on public chargers, lower VAT and support charge point operators to build infrastructure. If they don’t, all those years of promises of a zero-emission future, clean air and energy independence will have come to nothing.”