The government is taking steps to bring public charging costs in line with plugging in at home, following an independent report that claims high prices are excluding a third of drivers from switching to an electric car.
Announced during the Autumn Budget, a taskforce will be established by the Department for Transport (DfT) to pilot solutions enabling drivers to use their domestic energy tariff at the “local, lower-powered public charging points” that make up a third of the UK network.
In the meantime, the Treasury has confirmed £100 million in funding to bring prices “closer” to home charging for two years, starting in spring 2027. This is forecast to save drivers around £150 per year, based on an electric car covering 8000 miles and consuming an average of 3.3mpkWh of electricity.
The announcement follows an independent report, commissioned by the DfT’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and published yesterday (28 October), which recommended ‘porting’ of home energy tariffs for use at slow chargers as the “best long-term response” to the current “inequity”.
It’s unclear how the funding will be passed on to drivers, but it would be targeted at reducing prices at slower AC units and would exclude DC rapid chargers.
The cost benefits of EVs are highly dependent on access to cheap home electricity. According to the latest Zapmap data, the average price of an AC charger stands at 54p per kWh – which is just over double the Ofgem-capped flat rate (26p) and eight times more expensive than the off-peak rates (7p) offered by some utility companies.
Using the DfT’s 3.3mpkWh EV example, a driver relying on public chargers could be paying 16p per mile, compared with between 2p and 8p if they were able to charge at home.
Previous policies have recognised that gap. Drivers without off-street parking are eligible for a grant of up to £500 towards installing a home charger, but with conditions. They must install a solution to avoid cross-pavement cables becoming a trip hazard and the charger doesn’t guarantee them usage of the adjacent parking space.
Last week, the DfT also removed the need to apply for planning permission to install pavement-crossing gulleys, claiming this saves drivers up to £300.
Buses and local transport minister Simon Lightwood said: “If you don’t have a driveway, you shouldn’t be stung for charging your car. We’re putting a stop to the so-called ‘driveway divide’.
“The EV revolution is soaring. Sales are up 36% on last year and 200,000 drivers have already cashed in on our Electric Car Grant to go electric. Now we want everyone to feel the benefit, wherever they live.”
