Drivers, especially in Scotland, are encountering higher running costs for electric vehicles (EVs) than for petrol cars due to escalating public charging prices. This situation contradicts the initial promise of economical motoring associated with EVs.
The cost of using public Rapid and Ultra-Rapid chargers can reach up to 24 pence per mile, while many petrol cars can be operated for as little as 15 pence per mile. This disparity is particularly acute for drivers who lack access to home charging, a common issue for those living in flats.
A report from the UK Department for Transport's review into the 'Cost of Public Electric Vehicle Charging' indicates that tariffs for high-power public chargers have nearly doubled since 2021. The report highlights that while drivers with home charging capabilities still save significantly compared to refueling petrol vehicles, this is not the case for those relying solely on public networks.
In Scotland, over half of households do not have a private driveway, forcing many EV owners to use public chargers. Data from Zapmap shows that private firms now operate almost all charge points in Scotland, following the phasing out of the state-run ChargePlace Scotland network. Standard AC chargers, which take six to ten hours for a full charge, cost between 12-16 pence per mile. In contrast, the more convenient Rapid or Ultra-Rapid DC chargers, which offer a full charge in 10-60 minutes, cost around 24 pence per mile.
This trend is reportedly discouraging potential EV buyers. The Department for Transport report suggests that public charging prices are a significant barrier to EV ownership, particularly for individuals without access to cheaper overnight domestic charging. To address this, the report recommended introducing local on-street charging hubs with capped tariffs equivalent to domestic rates, aiming for running costs around 8 pence per mile.
The UK government has acknowledged these concerns, pledging to establish a taskforce and invest £100 million from next year to reduce charging costs. Transport Scotland also noted the availability of grants, such as the Cross-Pavement Charging Grant, to assist households without driveways in installing charging solutions.