- More and more operators are abandoning flat rates for fast charging
Public charging point operators that offer the fastest charging speeds to EV owners are reverting to peak and off-peak rates to make extra money at peak times and encourage owners to plug in when it’s quieter and more cheap.
The latest AA Electric Vehicle Charging Report also noted that the model change is causing price fluctuations across flat, peak and off-peak tariffs.
The report coincided with the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, in which Rachel Reeves redoubled her efforts to encourage more drivers to use electric vehicles.
This included an additional investment of £200 million between 2025 and 2026 to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle charging points, particularly to increase the availability of devices on streets across England.
Charging point operators offering the fastest charging speeds to the public are switching to offering peak and off-peak rates, according to the AA’s latest Charging Report.
The AA’s September report on charging prices found that fast charging operators are now offering peak and off-peak rates, reflecting the type of charging flexibility that people who charge at home or charge slowly.
This new model replaces the normal 24/7 rate.
Jack Cousens, head of highways policy at the AA, said it was an “exciting move” to see more operators with the fastest speeds move away from flat rates and towards variable rates.
“If drivers are willing to watch the 10 o’clock news in their car, then fast charging can be as cheap as chips,” he added.
As a result, there has been a dramatic movement in the price of charging, with ultra-fast peak rate costs rising by 8p/kWh. At the same time, off-peak charging fell by 10p/kWh.
Is public charging cheaper than filling up with gasoline?
The transition to variable tariff tariffs has resulted in a dramatic movement in the price of load, with ultrafast peak tariff costs (the fastest available) increasing by 8p/kWh.
At the same time, off-peak fast charging fell by 10p/kWh.
The flat rate fell to 2p/kWh, although the fast flat rate rose by 3p/kWh.
And although unleaded petrol prices fell sharply in September to 135.2 pence per litre, home charging, all forms of trickle charging and off-peak ultra-fast charging remain cheaper per kilometer compared to gasoline.
Off-peak ultra-fast public charging costs 11.75p per mile, while petrol was 12.02p per mile last month.
Fuel fell sharply during September to 135.2p per litre; petrol remained at 12.02 pence per mile.
| Load type | Speed | Sep Ave (p/kWh) | Aug Ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to add 80% charge | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Up to 7kW | 22 | 22 | 0 | €8.80 | 4.97 |
| Slow | Up to 8kW | 49 | 51 | -2 | €19.60 | 11.07 |
| Fast | 8-49kW | 61 | 58 | 3 | €24.40 | 13.79 |
| Fast | 50-149kW | 73 | 74 | -1 | €29.20 | 16.50 |
| Ultra fast | +150kW | 76 | 77 | -1 | €30.40 | 17.18 |
| GASOLINE | 135.20 people | 142.30 people | -7.10 people | €43.26 | 12.02 | |
| Source – September AA Recharge Report | ||||||
| Load type | Speed | Sep Ave (p/kWh) | Aug Ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to add 80% charge | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow outside peak hours | Up to 8kW | 42 | 42 | 0 | €16.80 | 9.49 |
| slow peak | Up to 8kW | 58 | 58 | 0 | €23.20 | 13.11 |
| Fast off-peak | 8-49kW | 75 | 75 | 0 | £30.00 | 16.95 |
| quick peak | 8-49kW | 79 | 79 | 0 | €31.60 | 17.85 |
| Fast off-peak | 50-149kW | 65 | 75 | -10 | £26.00 | 14.69 |
| quick peak | 50-149kW | 82 | 79 | 3 | €32.80 | 18.53 |
| Ultra-fast off-peak hours | +150kW | 52 | 51 | 1 | €20.80 | 11.75 |
| ultra-fast spike | +150kW | 67 | 59 | 8 | €26.80 | 15.14 |
| GASOLINE | 135.20 people | 142.30 people | -7.10 people | €43.26 | 12.02 | |
| Source – September AA Recharge Report | ||||||
Despite a series of EV-related announcements in the Budget, the AA has expressed disappointment at Rachel Reeves’ failure to address the “pavement tax” currently borne by electric car owners without off-road parking. the public road.
While those with driveways and garages pay only 5 per cent VAT when they collect, those without are forced to pay the standard rate of 20 per cent.
With public charging prices already higher, this is a double whammy for anyone living in an apartment or property without access to off-street parking, and is one of several obstacles preventing many drivers from switching to electric vehicles.
The AA says four in 10 homes do not have any dedicated off-street parking.
Four in 10 homes do not have any type of dedicated off-street parking, and the so-called ‘pavement tax’ means that those drivers who want to join the electric revolution will have to pay higher charging costs.
Heading to the dispatch box on Wednesday, the Chancellor reaffirmed Labour’s bid to “support the uptake of electric vehicles” with a series of announcements to boost demand as the government doubled down on its green commitments.
Amid reports of a decline in electric vehicle purchases by private buyers, manufacturers cutting prices to stimulate sales and, most recently, Volkswagen saying a lack of demand could force it to close factories to save money, Rachel Reeves set out to address how he intends to encourage motorists to choose battery-powered cars.
Among his other promises were an extension of the low company car tax for electric models, a significantly lower road tax than for equivalent petrol and diesel vehicles and, potentially, the removal of the premium car surcharge. which applies to electric vehicles over £40,000.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “The AA also welcomes continued incentives for electric vehicle drivers through an extension of company car benefit-in-kind incentives for electric vehicles until 2028 and increased differentials in vehicle excise taxes for electric vehicles.
“This will give incentives to go green.”
