There’s potential for the Government’s net-zero transport ambitions to be derailed if higher electricity prices put drivers off from switching to an electric model, said RAC EV spokesperson Simon Williams.
The 34p per kilowatt hour Energy Price Guarantee will significantly cushion the impact of rising energy prices affecting drivers of electric cars.
“From 1 October it will cost on average £22.22 to fully charge a typical 64kWh family-sized electric SUV, £3.85 more than it does currently, and a third less than it would have cost under the new cap that was announced by Ofgem on 26 August (£33.80).
“Drivers will need to contact their energy provider to confirm the exact price of their new tariff.”
He went on, “It remains to be seen what impact the Government’s new package of help will have on chargepoint operators and the prices they set drivers, but we remain concerned about the rising wholesale costs of energy that may force some to increase their prices in the coming months.
“There’s the potential for the Government’s net-zero transport ambitions to be derailed if higher electricity prices put drivers off from switching to an electric model, which is why we have called on the new transport secretary to cut the 20% VAT rate on public chargepoints to match the 5% charged on domestic electricity.”
Charge Watch is the RAC’s initiative that monitors the average cost of charging an electric car on a pay-as-you-go, non-subscription basis at a public rapid or ultra-rapid charger. It tracks price changes over time to make sure drivers get a fair deal.
More drivers than ever are looking to make the switch to electric vehicles in the run-up to the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.
Yet as many as one-in-three households are likely to be unable to charge an electric vehicle at home, meaning a large number of drivers will rely on using public chargers away from home. This is why having an affordable, reliable and fit-for-purpose network of chargers across the UK is so important.
The RAC has run Fuel Watch for many years to ensure drivers pay a fair price at the pumps. Charge Watch aims to do the same for drivers of electric cars who want to pay to use the fastest public charge points without a subscription, and without having to sign up to a particular operator. The RAC is also a founding supporter of the FairCharge campaign.
