The average price for pay-as-you go rapid charging has risen 21% since September in line with soaring energy prices.  

The average price of charging an electric car on a pay-as-you go, non-subscription basis at a publicly accessible rapid charger in the UK has increased by 21% to 44.55p per kWh since September

Analysis from the RAC shows that the average cost for using a publicly accessible rapid charger in Great Britain has gone up to 44.55p per kilowatt hour, up 7.81p from 36.74p at the end of last summer. 

It means the average cost to complete an 80% rapid charge of a typical family-sized electric car with a 64kWh battery has increased by £4 over this period, from £18.81 to £22.81 now.  

Meanwhile, the average price of charging at the quickest ultra-rapid chargers – which have a power output of 100kW-plus – has increased by a greater margin of 16.76p per kWh, from 34.21p per kWh in September to 50.97p in May. This means the cost to charge a vehicle to 80% has risen from £17.51 to £26.10.   

The RAC’s analysis shows that it now costs on average 10p per mile to charge at a rapid charger, up from 8p per mile last September.  

But this is nearly half the cost per mile compared to filling a petrol-powered family car, the cost of which has risen from 15p per mile since the end of last September to a staggering 19p per mile now. The cost per mile for a similarly sized diesel-powered car is even higher at nearly 21p.  

While the cost of charging a zero-emission electric car remains much cheaper and better value than topping up a petrol or diesel car, the RAC and the FairCharge campaign continue to point out that drivers who can’t charge up at home – which could be as many as one in three – are penalised by having to pay a higher rate of VAT on electricity than those who can. This could prevent a huge number of drivers from switching to electric next time they change their vehicles.  

Although the Government has already ruled it out, the FairCharge campaign is reiterating its calls for the 20% VAT rate currently charged on electricity at public chargers to be cut to match the 5% levied on domestic electricity, thus making it an easier decision for those who cannot charge at home to switch to an electric car. Doing so would see the cost of charging up at a rapid charger cut by 5.57p per kWh, and at an ultra-rapid charger by 6.37p. This would reduce the cost of an 80% charge by £2.85 and £3.26 on average at rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, respectively.  

RAC electric vehicle spokesperson Simon Williams said: “We understand conversations have been had within government over this ‘no driveway premium’, but it’s time there was an acceptance that a VAT rate that’s more favourable to drivers who have their own off-street parking risks putting other drivers off making the switch. Given the cost-of-living crisis, it’s surely only fair that everyone pays the same level of VAT no matter where they buy their electricity from.”  

The charging cost figures have been published by the RAC under its new Charge Watch initiative, which complements its established RAC Fuel Watch price monitor and will give greater clarity to drivers about what they can expect to pay to charge on public networks.