Public fast electrical automotive chargers now provide peak and off-peak charges – so when is it cheaper to plug in than refill with petrol?
- More operators are switching away from flat rates for rapid charging
Public chargepoint operators offering the fastest charging speeds to electric vehicle owners are reverting to peak and off-peak tariffs to rake in extra money at busy times and encourage owners to plug-in when its quieter – and cheaper.
The latest AA EV Recharge Report also noted that the change in models is causing price fluctuations across flat rate, peak and off-peak rates.
The report coincided with the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, which saw Rachel Reeves doubling down on efforts to encourage more drivers to go electric.
This included a further £200million investment between 2025 and 2026 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout, in particular to boost the availability of on-street devices across England.
Chargepoint operators offering the fastest charging speeds to the public are switching towards offering peak and off-peak tariffs, the AA’s latest Recharge Report has found
The AA’s September report into charging prices has found that fast charge operators are now offering peak and off-peak tariffs, mirroring the type of charging flexibility people who charge at home or slow charge have access to.
This new model replaces the normal 24/7 fee.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said it is an ‘interesting move’ for more operators at the fastest speeds to move away from flat rates and switching to variable tariffs.
‘If drivers are willing to watch the 10 o’clock news in their car, then rapid charging can be as cheap as chips,’ he added.
As a result there’s been a drastic movement in the price of charging, with ultra-rapid peak rate costs increasing 8p/kWh. At the same time off-peak charging fell by 10p/kWh
Is public charging cheaper than filling up with petrol?
The transition to variable-rate tariffs has resulted in a drastic movement in the price of charging, with ultra-rapid (the fastest available) peak rate costs increasing 8p/kWh.
At the same time, off-peak rapid charging fell by 10p/kWh.
Flat rate charging fell by up to 2p/kWh, although flat rate fast charging rose by 3p/kWh.
And while unleaded prices fell considerably during September to 135.2 pence per litre, domestic charging, all forms of slow charging and off-peak ultra-rapid charging are all still cheaper per mile compared to petrol.
Off-peak ultra-rapid public charging works out at 11.75p per mile, while petrol was 12.02p/mile last month.
Fuel fell considerably during September to 135.2 pence per litre – petrol sat at 12.02p/mile
| Charge 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 |
| Rapid | 50-149kW | 73 | 74 | -1 | £29.20 | 16.50 |
| Ultra-rapid | +150kW | 76 | 77 | -1 | £30.40 | 17.18 |
| PETROL | 135.20 ppl | 142.30 ppl | -7.10 ppl | £43.26 | 12.02 | |
| Source – AA Recharge Report September | ||||||
| Charge Type | Speed | Sep Ave (p/kWh) | Aug Ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to add 80% charge | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow Off-Peak | 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 |
| Fast Peak | 8-49kW | 79 | 79 | 0 | £31.60 | 17.85 |
| Rapid Off-Peak | 50-149kW | 65 | 75 | -10 | £26.00 | 14.69 |
| Rapid Peak | 50-149kW | 82 | 79 | 3 | £32.80 | 18.53 |
| Ultra-rapid Off-Peak | +150kW | 52 | 51 | 1 | £20.80 | 11.75 |
| Ultra-rapid Peak | +150kW | 67 | 59 | 8 | £26.80 | 15.14 |
| PETROL | 135.20 ppl | 142.30 ppl | -7.10 ppl | £43.26 | 12.02 | |
| Source – AA Recharge Report September | ||||||
Despite a raft of EV-related announcements in the Budget, the AA has expressed its disappointment that Rachel Reeves failed to address the ‘pavement tax’ currently incurred by electric car owners without off-street parking.
While those with driveways and garages pay just 5 per cent VAT when they charge, people 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 who lives in a flat or property without access to off-street parking, and is one of a number of hurdles preventing many drivers from switching to EVs.
The AA says four in 10 homes do not have any form of dedicated off-street parking.
Four in 10 homes do not have any form of dedicated off-street parking, and the so-called ‘pavement tax’ means those drivers wanting to join the electric revolution suffer from higher charging costs
When taking to the despatch box on Wednesday, the Chancellor reaffirmed Labour’s bid to ‘support take-up of electric vehicles’ with a flurry of announcements to boost demand as the government doubled down on its green commitments.
Amid reports of declining EV purchases by private buyers, manufacturers slashing prices to stimulate sales and – most recently – Volkswagen saying a lack of demand could force it to close factories to save money, Rachel Reeves made a point of addressing how she intends incentivise motorists to choose battery-powered cars.
Among her other pledges was an extension to low company car tax for electric models, significantly lower road tax than for equivalent petrol and diesel vehicles, and potentially removing the premium car supplementary tax levied on £40,000-plus EVs.
Edmund King, AA president, said: ‘The AA also welcomes continued incentives for EV drivers via an extension of the company car benefit in kind incentives for EVs to 2028 and increased differentials in vehicle excise duty for EVs.
‘This will give incentives to go green.’
