EV Charging Costs, Innovations and Challenges

From the rising costs of public charging and innovative vehicle-to-grid tariffs to the pressing need for accessible infrastructure. 

Rising Costs at Public Charging Stations

Recent data reported by The Telegraph , reveals that EV owners relying on public charging stations face increasing costs, above those of petrol vehicle costs. As those reliant on public charging stations for their EVs are witnessing, there have been significant rises in their annual motoring expenses.

Recent findings from Zapmap, a leading tracker of charge point installations, reveal an 11% increase over the past year in the cost of charging EVs at public charge points. This shift has led to a surprising turn of events. EV owners who depend solely on public charging infrastructure, are now incurring higher per-mile costs than their petrol vehicle drivers.

On average, EV owners who can charge their vehicles at home for 80% of the time enjoy a relatively low operational cost of 7p per mile, amounting to nearly £700 annually. For those splitting their charging evenly between home and public stations, the cost rises to 11p per mile, translating to just over £1,100 each year. 

However, the scenario is different for those reliant entirely on public charging stations, with costs soaring to 18p per mile, or just over £1,800 annually, surpassing the average annual expenditure of nearly £1,500 for petrol car drivers.

However, this trend in public EV charging costs has been put down to a preference for using ultra-rapid chargers. These make up about 45% of all charging sessions and of course, come at a premium price.

Those looking to make the switch, that don’t have the availability of home charging may find the public charging costs a deterrent. But it does go to show that having a tendency to stick with familiar charging options, rather than seeking out more competitive rates could mean you pay more.

The Dawn of Vehicle-to-Grid Tariffs

In related news, Octopus Energy has introduced the UK’s first V2G tariff which offers significant savings for EV owners according to Reuters.

The Octopus Energy new tariff, the Octopus Power Pack not only provides EV owners with cheaper charging opportunities but also pays them for contributing energy back to the grid during peak times. 

It’s a win-win where drivers get to save on charging costs, and the energy system can benefit from the extra power when it’s most needed. For EV owners who clock up around 10,000 miles a year, this new tariff could mean annual savings of over £850.

Striving for More Affordable Electric Vehicles

Automotive giants Renault and Stellantis have committed to reducing EV production costs, and are aiming for more affordable vehicle options by 2027.

The need for strategic cost reductions to counter the diminishing profit margins associated with electric vehicle production has been reported by Renault’s CEO, Luca de Meo. They have committed to slashing the costs of EV manufacturing by 40% by 2027.

Addressing Accessibility at EV Charging Points

Disabled campaigners have urged for mandatory accessibility standards at public EV charging stations. Many of the current stations have design flaws that put disabled users at a disadvantage and can leave them unable to charge their vehicles.

A report from the House of Lords has debated the inclusivity of EV charging facilities as reported by the DNS , The current approach to accessibility seems to be more of an afterthought than a principle. 

Recommendations have been made to ensure a portion of new charging points, adhere to accessibility standards set by the British Standards Institution (BSI.)

One of the main issues is insufficient space between parking spaces to allow all to access the chargers. Poorly placed sockets and difficult-to-read instructions with poor lighting are all barriers to the transition to electric vehicles for everyone.

Making standards mandatory across all new installations, similar to those set out in PAS1899 guidance would ensure that all people can enjoy the same level of access and convenience as their non-disabled counterparts.

A more concerted effort is required from both the government and the private sector to prioritise accessibility in the design and rollout of EV charging points.