Electric vehicle public charging costs on the rise

The average cost of public charging has risen 19% in the last quarter, according to new data from Mina, and this rise – plus the huge variability in pricing and payment methods – is causing charging confusion for company car drivers.

Over the last quarter, the average cost of charging in public (including VAT) was 67p per kWh, which was a 19%, or 11p, increase on the previous quarter, according to Mina’s analysis of 32,500 real life charging events.

The lowest recorded cost per kWh was 36p (excluding free chargers at locations such as supermarkets), while the highest was £2.77 – although this included parking charges in the price.

While choice is a good thing according to Mina, and the public network is improving hugely (its data shows charging speeds are improving all the time, with the current average speed around 33 kW), there is still too much confusion around payments, rate of charge and, consequently, value for money, and it is creating problems between drivers and their employers when it comes to reclaiming costs.

“Choice is hugely important for company car drivers, because our data shows they use chargers in very different ways. Sometimes drivers are happy to pay a high rate if they can access lots of energy and be on their way quickly to get on with their day, while at others, they want to pay less and take their time,” said Mina CEO Ashley Tate.

“But prices and speeds can vary wildly. This can lead to confusion about what is a good price to pay, or even how much you’re being charged, especially if a driver is paying for charging in lots of different ways on various cards and apps.

“So, when it comes to putting in expenses, and then justifying to their employers why they used particular more costly chargers, or spent so much time stopped, things can get awkward. The choices you make around charging your car for business shouldn’t require constant explanations to your employer. What company car drivers need is simple solutions and clear advice to help make good choices, relevant for their requirements at a given time.”