The price of public charging depends not only on which operator you choose, but very much on how you pay. Two cars can charge at the same stall for very different prices. Here are the two models, and how to work out which one pays off for you.
Ad hoc: easy, but the most expensive per kWh
Ad hoc means you pay per session without a subscription, usually by payment card or by scanning a QR code. It is easy and needs no sign-up, and it is the obvious choice if you only charge in public occasionally. The downside is that the price per kWh is almost always highest this way.
Subscription: cheaper per kWh for a fixed fee
With a subscription you get a lower price per kWh in return for a fixed monthly fee. If you charge a lot in public, it quickly pays for itself. Roaming providers do the same across many operators with a single card, so you avoid needing an app for each one.
The hidden fees to look for
The price per kWh is not always the whole story. Some chargers add a time fee on top, and many charge an idle fee if the car stays after it is full. On slow chargers, parking can also cost more than the electricity. Always check the terms on the spot before you plug in.
The easy habits that cut the bill
- Charge at home when you can: it is almost always cheapest
- Charge to 80 percent on expensive fast chargers, not to 100, where it is both slow and dear
- Move the car once it is full to avoid idle fees
- Use AC chargers for long stays and save the fast chargers for when you are in a hurry
Work out how many kWh you actually take in public per month. With the example above you can then see for yourself whether a subscription pays off for you.