EV Charging Costs Penalize Urban Drivers

Do you live in the suburbs with a garage. It couldn't be cheaper to charge an electric car. Do you live in the city center? You might be paying more for diesel to keep your EV running than you think.

It is a small problem, but it is getting bigger. 8.6 percent of global sales are made up of EV sales. The high cost of fuel makes it cheaper to run a car than it is to buy one. Even with record fuel prices in the US and Europe, it can cost more to top up the battery at a fuel station than it does to charge it in your driveway or garage.

It isn't bad for everyone. It could cause a delay in the EV roll out in the cities that suffer from some of the worst air pollution. This isn't just unfair, it's a policy mistake. People living in flats are not included in the transition to electric vehicles.

A rapid DC charge point costs 50p per kWh, slower AC charge point costs 35p per kWh, and at- home charging costs 28pence per kWh. If you drive 9000 miles a year, the difference between the current electricity prices and the most expensive rapid charging points will be more than 500 dollars a year.

The gap widens for cars that need more power. The Polestar 2 would cost more to charge at home than it would at a rapid charging station.

If you compare the cost of a basic cable with the cost of installing a wall-mounted smart chargers, the gap gets even larger. It's possible to take advantage of overnight electricity rates, which can drop prices by more than 30%.

If you were to only use a DC rapid charge for your EV, that may not be the case. If you use on-street charge points or plug in your EV at home, you will draw down alternating current. Direct current, or DC, is quicker and more expensive than rapid charging. It is the best-case scenario for charging the Ioniq at an average AC point, as it is an extremely efficient EV using 16.3%kWh per 100 km.

According to data from the International Council on Clean Transportation, rapid charging can cost up to five times more than residential electricity. One of the main benefits of an electric car is the lower cost of driving. Those with lower incomes who live in apartments may end up paying more or simply not purchasing an electric vehicle.