We currently stand in a period of energy transition and profound changes in the mobility model.
Climate change and the international community’s commitment to decarbonisation seem to be increasingly clear.
In fact, Europe has already set a red line: EU signals end of internal combustion engine by 2035. This measure together with a €72,000 aid package to encourage the transition to zero emissions will change the map of the European electric fleet in the coming years.
The historic increase in fuel prices and the various fiscal measures that countries are applying to emissions as well as incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles mean that more and more people and (public and private) companies are now seriously considering making the leap to electric mobility. With this article, we intend to clarify a recurrent doubt about the topic.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
There is no doubt that this is a question that users and companies ask themselves, as the savings factor is important. However, there is no single answer to this question, but we can shed some light by analysing a series of variables and comparing the average price in different European countries.
What are the variables that affect the price of charge an electric car?
The price for charge an electric vehicle is not the same everywhere, just as it happens with fuels. However, we can establish a series of factors to take into account and understand why the price of charging can variate.
Below are the main factors to be taken into account:
– The energy price regulation of the country
– Contracted energy power and management
– Type of vehicle and battery
– Type of charging: slow, semi-fast or fast charging
– Charging location: at home, at work, on the road, in public spaces…
Average price of charging in Europe
Swithcer.ie, the Irish website that compares the prices of the energy sector, published a comparison table with the average prices of vehicle charging in the main European countries in 2020. In it we can see the country and the average cost per KWh, the cost of a full charge and the cost per KWh/100 km.
This data refers to the average cost. Therefore, some of the factors listed above must be taken into account, such as the type of vehicle and its battery, the type of charging or the place where it is carried out. It is also true that depending on the charging point network operator this price may vary. Even so, this table helps us to generate a general mapping of the average price in each country.
In any case, the price of energy in each of these countries also differs according to the variables that Switcher discusses: geopolitical situation, energy regulation in the country, import costs, supply network and environmental protection, taxes and salaries.
Electric cars remain the most cost-effective option
Although some people are still reluctant to purchase electric vehicles (the main reasons being lack of charging infrastructure, vehicle prices and autonomy), if we analyse the efficiency and profitability of an electric car compared to one powered by fossil fuel, there is no doubt that the electric car is still the most profitable option in the medium and long term.
The price per KWh/100 km is always lower than the price per l/100 km of combustion cars. Even more so with the current increase in fuel costs. Furthermore, it should be noted that during this period of transition towards more sustainable mobility, many countries are promoting electric mobility in such a way that many of the public charging points are free of charge or at a very attractive cost for users.
Similarly, some service stations have large charging facilities (such as Ecostation.es) at very affordable prices for their customers. More and more petrol and service stations are offering this service to attract new customers and to promote other facets of their business.
EVcharge, the solution for efficiency and saving
Reducing costs and being more efficient with your own vehicle or with a fleet of company vehicles is one of EVcharge’s objectives.
Energy Smart Manager is a module linked to EVcharge to help maintain control of a network of charging points at all times. This tool allows you to manage energy consumption or self-consumption in an intelligent way and according to need and demand.
Efficient system: It enables to foresee which lines should be limited and for how long or even depending on other consumptions.
Secure system: It prevents power cuts due to excess power on a given line, which improves customer service and avoids the cost of excess contracted power.
Automatic system: When a charging point is forced to offer less power or automatically disconnects, it prevents users from accessing it and thus they cannot make a reservation for the charging.
Power by time slots: It allows charging networks to be configured in a way that they can control the maximum supply power in different time slots.
Balancing in multi-charger systems: It enables automatic balancing of the charging process to be configured for stations in which there are multiple chargers.
