Public EV Charging More Expensive Than Home Charging

In an eyewatering revelation, the latest AllCosts report from Allstar exposes a stark contrast in the expenses incurred by private and motor trade drivers when charging their electric vehicles (EVs) at public charge points versus the cost of charging from the comfort of their homes.

Utilising proprietary data gleaned from millions of fuel transactions and hundreds of thousands of on-the-road charging events within the extensive Allstar network, in addition to EVs home charging statistics, the AllCosts report stands as the first of its kind quarterly publication.

Aimed at providing businesses and motor industry fleets with tangible insights into real-life costs for electric, petrol, and diesel vehicles currently on the road, this report delves right into the intricacies of charging expenditure.

Key findings from the inaugural edition highlight the significant difference between home and public charging costs for drivers.

While home tariffs can plummet to as low as 4p per kWh, public rates can skyrocket to over £1.00, which is a staggering 20 times higher. On average, drivers often find themselves paying more than double the amount per kWh when charging in public compared to the convenience of their homes.

Beyond mere tariff comparisons, the report underscores other critical factors influencing these numbers. Variables such as the duration a motorist can access ultra-low tariffs at home and the necessity of charging at peak rates for a full charge play a pivotal role.

Motor trade Fleet managers and drivers must also consider the speed of the pricier public chargers, weighing the potential benefits of faster recharging against the increased energy costs.

The comprehensive Allstar AllCosts report doesn’t stop at electric vehicle insights; it also delves into the fluctuations in diesel and petrol prices on the forecourts, revealing the pence per mile costs for various fleet vehicle types based on real-world fuel and energy data.

Additionally, the report offers a meticulous analysis of average public charging costs across 69 regions in the UK.

Surprisingly, driving an EV in rural areas can either be more expensive than urban counterparts or the most economical option in the country, a point many insurance brokers may take note of. Notable mentions among the ten cheapest charging areas include Norfolk, Cornwall, Belfast, Orkney, and the Isle of Wight. Conversely, Bristol emerges as the sole urban centre in the top ten most expensive charging areas list, with a significant representation from various Scottish regions.

Greater London takes the lead in public charging, boasting more than four times the charging activity compared to the next highest, Greater Manchester.

The Allstar AllCosts report draws insights from the Allstar Chargepass, a versatile tool simplifying payment for EV charging at home and on the road, catering to both electric and mixed fuel fleets. As the EV landscape evolves, this report serves as a crucial resource for car dealers and fleet managers navigating the intricate terrain of electric vehicle expenditure.

Allstar Chargepass UK, MD, Ashley Tate, said, “As an industry, we are collectively migrating to alternative power for vehicles, which is a huge moment in the history of mobility.

“With that comes plenty of questions around the various running costs, so we’ve harnessed our proprietary data to provide clear insights and help drivers get a better understanding of real-life costs of electric vehicle charging, petrol and diesel.

“For those that are opting for EVs, our inaugural edition has shown the clear cost benefits of charging at home. While we understand that this isn’t an option available for everyone, where possible drivers could make significant savings by charging at home compared to those using public charge points.”

Tate adds: “We’ve provided the pence-per-mile figures of cars and vans in the report based on our real-life electric and fuel costs so that businesses and fleets can see our estimated indicative costs of various cars and vans models, however they choose to power them. We’ll keep a close eye on these figures and keep reporting on the latest trends.”