While the newspapers are currently full of news about skyrocketing fuel prices, there is another development underway that is relevant and interesting for EV owners. As electricity prices have risen sharply, charging at home can suddenly become more expensive than charging at a public charge point.
Until recently, electricity prices of 23 to 25 cents were common, but now they are quite different. Due to the increased electricity prices, EV owners who have a variable energy contract or who are taking out a new energy contract should take into account rates that can run up to 65 cents per kWh. Assuming an average kWh battery capacity of 61.6 kWh, a full battery costs about 40 euros, while the 75 kWh battery pack of the Tesla Model 3 costs about 48.75 euros.
Strangely enough, the kWh prices at public charging stations have hardly risen at all. Apparently, there is no question of variable tariffs. The average kWh price at a public charging station is still 35 euro cents. So it only costs 26.25 euros to charge the Tesla Model 3 at a public charging station. Count your profit! The question is, of course, how long this will remain, but for now public charging is an interesting option. When the VAT rate in the Netherlands is lowered on July 1, the electricity price you pay for home charging will drop somewhat.
Worth a walk?
It may be a walk to a public charging point, but it can be worth it at the moment in combination with a high kWh price at home. However, if everyone starts to make use of this advice, then the public charging stations could get crowded...
It becomes a different story if you have solar panels on your house. Then a kWh will cost you only 7 euro cents, so you will have charged your EV battery for only a few euros. Of course, this is only an option for households that have their own driveway and thus their own charging station. In this case, of course, there are the installation costs of the solar panels and the charging station, which you must first earn back. With today's energy rates, however, this can happen quickly. You'll probably earn back your investment in solar panels a few years sooner than if you were to use the captured power for your home alone.
Also know that there are special charging stations that you can set to charge only with solar energy, if available. And that they do not use power from the grid. Of course you can easily adjust this.
Two-way some electric cars
And then there is the possibility of bi-directional charging and discharging. During the day you can charge your EV at a public charging station for 35 cents per kWh. Then when you come home in the evening, you plug the EV into your house and you can use the power stored in your EV battery pack to light and heat your home. If you drive a leased car, you'll have to talk to your employer about how to factor that in, but you'll probably still save money. More and more EVs offer the option of bi-directional charging, but your charging station must also be suitable. The supply of bi-directional charging electric cars and charging stations is not yet very large. The expectation is that this will change soon.
Fast charging can also be cheaper than at home
The most expensive charging option is still fast charging. At Fastned, for example, the price is currently 69 euro cents per kWh. At the Tesla Superchargers, where nowadays EV owners of other brands can also make use of, the same 68 cents is charged. With a Tesla subscription, the kWh rate drops. Also at Fastned you get cheaper with a subscription, where it is possible to set the rate at 45 cents. And then it is suddenly a lot cheaper than charging at home.
