AA EV Recharge Report – Slow charging can be MOST expensive charge as peak rates introduced

Monday, 23 January 2023 00:01

Some operators have introduced peak and off-peak rates to manage demand Flat rate slow charging rates drop by 17 p/kWh compared to November “The government must keep an eye on prices” says AA The second AA EV Recharge Report for December1 shows that slow charging rates have dropped by 17 p/kWh compared to November, but some providers have changed their business model by introducing peak and off-peak rates to help manage demand, ensure power can be provided...Request free trial

Some operators have introduced peak and off-peak rates to manage demand
Flat rate slow charging rates drop by 17 p/kWh compared to November
“The government must keep an eye on prices” says AA

The second AA EV Recharge Report for December¹ shows that slow charging rates have dropped by 17 p/kWh compared to November, but some providers have changed their business model by introducing peak and off-peak rates to help manage demand, ensure power can be provided throughout the day, and prevent people staying plugged in longer than they need to.

By introducing separate rates for different times of the day, EV drivers need to check what they will be charged as peak rates can be more expensive than ultra-rapid charging. At the same time, operators run their peak times differently, so drivers should check what rate is applied before plugging in.

AA EV Recharge Report – December 2022 (All PAYG prices not including connection fees where applicable)

Charger type	Speed (kW)	December Average price (p/kWh)²	November Average price (p/kWh)²	Price change (p/kWh)	Cost to charge 80% at Ave p/kWh³	Pence per mile (p/mile)
Domestic	3-7 kW	34 p/kWh	34 p/kWh	0 p/kWh	£13.60	7.64 p/mile
Slow (Flat rate)	Up to 7kW	37 p/kWh	54 p/kWh	-17 p/kWh	£14.80	8.31 p/mile
Slow (Off-Peak)	Up to 7kW	37 p/kWh	N/A	N/A	£14.80	8.31 p/mile
Slow (Peak)	Up to 7kW	72 p/kWh	N/A	N/A	£28.80	16.18 p/mile
Fast	8-22 kW	55 p/kWh	49 p/kWh	+6 p/kWh	£22.00	12.36 p/mile
Rapid	23-100 kW	68 p/kWh	60 p/kWh	+8 p/kWh	£27.20	15.28 p/mile
Ultra-rapid	+101 kW	70 p/kWh	69 p/kWh	+1 p/kWh	£28.00	15.73 p/mile

Fall in petrol price impacts pence per mile savings

A continued fall in the pump price of petrol now places the running costs around 14.45 p/mile⁴ meaning that a petrol combustion engine vehicle is cheaper to run per mile than an EV exclusively using the fastest types of chargers. However, most EV drivers will only use rapid and ultra-rapid chargers on longer journeys or as a quick top up meaning that electric drivers will save money when comparing overall running costs with a petrol car.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy and recharging for the AA, said: “The introduction of peak and off-peak charging mirrors many domestic energy providers’ offering to EV owners. We completely understand why this has been introduced as it allows the supply of electricity to remain constant throughout the day while ensuring drivers don’t overstay their welcome. However the price gap between the two is staggering, so much like refilling a petrol or diesel car, drivers should check the rates they could be paying before plugging in.

“While pump prices are falling, electricity prices are going in the other direction, but we are hopeful prices could tail off later this year. The government must keep an eye on prices and act if necessary. Unlike fuel, EV charging already has a regulator in place to monitor public charging rates⁵ and they shouldn’t be afraid to step in if prices escalate.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

AA analysed 13 chargepoint providers account for more than 7,000 chargepoint devices. Last DfT figures showed 34,637 publicly available devices:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-october-2022/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-october-2022

Average prices are the PAYG options without connection fee as at 28 December 2022. Subscriptions are available for all chargepoint speeds which can unlock a cheaper p/kWh, however rates vary across provider.

Calculations based on adding 80% to a Vauxhall e-Corsa, 50kW, with a WLTP range of 222 miles. Adding 80% range equates to 178 miles of range. Vauxhall e-Corsa specifications here: all-new-corsa-price-guide.pdf (vauxhall.co.uk)

Calculations based on Vauxhall Corsa 1.2L (75PS) Petrol with a 40 litre tank. 80% refuel = 32 litres.

Petrol: 32 litres @ 151.32 ppl = £48.42. Combined MPG of 47.9 = 335 miles at 14.45 p/mile.

Vauxhall Corsa specifications here: all-new-corsa-price-guide.pdf (vauxhall.co.uk)

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