UK electric car owners could face paying more in costs every year
The rise will effect two million drivers in the UK(Image: 24K-Production via Getty Images)
Drivers across the UK have been hit with a £52 charge, with the new levy affecting road users earlier this month. Ofgem’s energy price cap rose from July 1, with the maximum energy rate climbing from 24.67p/kWh to 26.11p/kWh.
The rise will have a significant knock-on effect for Britain’s two million electric vehicle owners, with home charging costs increasing.
Experts at WhatCar? have previously noted that vehicles such as SUVs could face additional costs of up to £52.12 annually as a consequence of the increase.
Smaller models such as the Renault 5 could pay slightly less but would still see average bills climb by £22.06 per year.
WhatCar? noted that the typical EV driver would ordinarily plug in their vehicle for the equivalent of 33.3 charges annually, reports the Express.
This data was then used to calculate average charging costs under both the previous and current energy price caps.
The latest Ofgem rise covers the period from July 1 to September 30, meaning drivers will be facing the higher costs for at least a further two months.
Claire Evans, WhatCar? ‘s consumer editor, said: “The electricity price cap increase is bad news for all consumers, including EV drivers, but there are ways of mitigating the extra cost.
“Do your research on the best EV home charging tariffs to ensure you’re on the cheapest option, take advantage of affordable workplace charging if you can, and look for off-peak deals and special offers on the public charging network.”
According to specialists at Carwow, a typical electric vehicle consumes approximately three to four miles of range per kWh. Under the new tariffs, this means covering 1,000 miles could cost roughly £65-£85 in electricity.
They also highlighted that charging a 60kWh battery from empty could cost approximately £15.67. Nevertheless, the experts still acknowledged that electric vehicles remain generally cheaper to operate than petrol or diesel cars, despite the rise.
It’s not only cars that will be impacted, with the new adjustments expected to add around £221 annually to the average household energy bill.
Gordon Wallis, energy expert at Your NRG, said: “Many households won’t immediately feel the impact of the price rise because energy usage tends to be lower during summer.
“However, that can create a false sense of security. The decisions people make now could have a significant impact on what they pay during the colder months when energy consumption increases.”
