Rapid electric car charging costs smash records – now more than double home charging!
Rapid charging hits 70p per kWh – a 58% hike since last May
Rapid charging an electric car on a pay-as-you-go basis now costs a whopping 70.32p per kilowatt hour. That’s up from 44.55p just a year ago, a staggering 58% jump. Since September, prices have also jumped 11%, driven by soaring wholesale electricity costs.
For a typical family EV with a 64kWh battery, topping up to 80% via rapid chargers now burns a £36 hole in your pocket – enough juice for 188 miles. Meanwhile, charging the same car at home only costs £17.87 despite eye-watering energy bills. That’s more than twice as expensive on the road.
Ultra-rapid chargers charge even more – nearly 75p per kWh
The fastest ultra-rapid chargers, pumping power at over 100kW and speeding up your charge in minutes, now cost 74.79p per kWh. That’s a whopping 47% rise since May 2022 and 11% since September.
A full 80% charge at these ultra-rapid points sets you back £38.29, which is £20.42 more than charging at home – a serious sting for drivers on the go.
EV rapid charging now more expensive per mile than petrol or diesel
The RAC’s new data reveals a grim truth for electric car owners without home charging options. Using public rapid chargers comes at a massive premium, sometimes costing more per mile than filling up a petrol or diesel car.
- Rapid charger users pay about 20p per mile.
- Ultra-rapid charger users shell out 21p per mile.
- Petrol cars averaging 40mpg cost 17p per mile, while diesel matches the 20p mark.
This means drivers who rely on rapid public charging can actually pay more to stay electric than petrolheads do at the pumps.
Calls to slash VAT on public EV charging to boost switch to electric
Despite record electric car sales last month, the RAC and campaign group FairCharge warn that pricey EV running costs could deter more drivers amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Both groups are pushing the Government to cut VAT on electricity bought at public chargers from 20% to 5%, matching the lower rate for home energy users.
This VAT cut would slice rapid charging prices by nearly 9p per kWh, dropping them to 61.53p, and ultra-rapid rates to 65.44p.
RAC’s Simon Williams said: “For drivers to switch to electric cars en masse, it’s vital that the numbers stack up. Charging quickly must be affordable. Those who can charge at home or work get fantastic value. Sadly, others pay far more – in some cases more than petrol or diesel drivers.”
“High energy prices risk putting people off public charging altogether. Cutting VAT to 5% on public chargers would help keep costs down and show the Government’s commitment to a greener future.”
FairCharge founder Quentin Willson added: “Drivers without home charging are doubly hit by expensive charging and higher taxes. It’s unfair to tax public charging at four times the rate of home charging. The Government must fix this to keep electric driving affordable and cut air pollution.”
The message is clear: Rapid EV charging costs are soaring, risking the electric revolution’s momentum. If the Government wants more Brits to go electric, slashing VAT on public charging could be the game-changer.
