Hidden costs of electric vehicles

Charging a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) may cost more than motorists might think, according to What Car?.

What Car? believes that the growing cost of public charging points, lack of off-street parking for charging and low residual values could make motorists hesitant to purchase an electric vehicle.

Plug-in electric vehicles have had a rise in popularity over recent years – growing 33% in 2017- due to their reputation as an affordable long-term option for motorists.

However, the growth in EV sales has resulted in the change of cost in public charging, with many public charging points no longer providing free electricity and some charging as much as 30p per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

What Car? editorial team tested a Renault Zoe ZE40 on the roads and found that the cost to charge the car to 80% could vary quite significantly, from £17.46 for a Source London Flexi – fast (7.4 kW) charging station to £7.70 for a Polar Instant – fast (7.2 kW) charger.

Costing just 14p/kWh, at-home charging has become the most affordable option for EV drivers. However, the scarcity of off-street parking in many urban centres means motorists could pay a high price for green driving.

Steve Huntingford, editor at What Car? commented, ‘Plug-in electrics are still relatively new to consumers and so they might not be as clued up as they would be with a petrol or diesel equivalent.’