Users of Chargy public charging stations now have to pay more for electricity for their car. Bad news for drivers of electric or hybrid vehicles who do not have a terminal at home.
The Autofestival is approaching. Many customers are wondering if they will take the plunge this year and switch to an electric car. It’s often also a financial question: is it cheaper to drive an electric car?
Drivers of electric or hybrid cars, who cannot charge their vehicles at home, had an unpleasant surprise at the start of the year. Electricity prices at Chargy public charging stations have increased significantly. Fränk Schütz was more than surprised when he wanted to charge his electric car at a Chargy terminal after the holidays. He has been driving on electricity for 11 years and considers himself a convinced electric pioneer. But he wonders about these new prices. He explains that the price at the normal Chargy terminal is increased from 34 to 49 cents per kilowatt hour. At the fast SuperChargy terminal, this is an increase of 43 to 63 cents the kilowatt hour.
Where does this increase of almost 50% come from? RTL interviewed the operators of the Chargy network. Creos indicates that although it develops the network, installs the terminals, ensures maintenance and supplies the electricity, it is not it that sells the electricity to the end customer. This is the “charging service provider” (FSC) which takes care of it. Each provider has its own pricing structure and business model. And in 2023 and 2024, they all benefited from a public subsidy. Over the past two years, Chargy electricity was subsidized to the tune of 13 cents/kWh. This was a sort of price cap to compensate for increases in the international electricity market.
A full tank of electricity costs almost as much as a full tank of… diesel!
Daniel Christnach, member of Creos management and in charge of the Chargy network, explains that Creos has not increased its prices either for infrastructure or for electricity. The current price increase can only be explained by the fact that the various suppliers have adapted their prices to the new situation. The public subsidy having been removed, suppliers are passing on this additional cost to their customers. The increase varies depending on the supplier.
Daniel Christnach emphasizes that the elimination of this subsidy after two years is a political decision. Creos understands users’ anger, but cannot change anything about this situation. Chargy network managers indicate, however, that despite this price increase, the electric car remains less expensive than a gasoline car.
RTL did the calculation. With an electric car, which consumes 17 kWh/100 km, and which you recharge at home at the capped rate of 20 cents/kWh, 100 kilometers costs 3.40 euros. If you recharge the same electric car at a Chargy charging station at a rate of 40 ct/kWh, you will have to pay 8.33 euros for 100 kilometers. With a diesel car which consumes 5.5 l/100 km, 100 kilometers costs you 8.55 euros at the current fuel price. In other words: if we only compare energy costs, electricity at Chargy terminals and diesel are now almost at the same level.
Of course, taxes and maintenance remain cheaper on an electric vehicle. But we must now fear that with the new charging prices, the electric car will only be an option for people who can charge at home. “I understand that prices must be adapted, but that is no longer normal”, concludes Fränk Schütz, who is happy that he does not need the borne charge in an emergency.
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