ESB ecars has announced that it is to raise charging prices across its network of Irish public charging locations due to spiralling energy costs over the last twelve months.
The changes, due to go into effect from Thursday, May 5th, will see rises in both ESB ecars' pay-as-you-go rates as well as for those with a membership or subscription.
What are the new ESB ecars prices?
The new pricing structure will be as follows for pay-as-you-go customers:
- Standard charging (up to 22kW): €0.39 per kWh (previously €0.268)
- Fast charging (23-50kW): €0.45 per kWh (previously €0.305)
- High-power charging (51-150kW): €0.48 per kWh (previously €0.37)
On a €4.99 monthly membership rate, the prices are less, as follows:
- Standard charging (up to 22kW): €0.35 per kWh (previously €0.23)
- Fast charging (23-50kW): €0.41 per kWh (previously €0.268)
- High-power charging (51-150kW): €0.44 per kWh (previously €0.33)
From the same date, prices for business customers on fleet plans will also increase, the standard rate rising to €0.33/kWh, fast charging increasing to €0.39/kWh and rapid high-power charging rising to €0.42/kWh.
Overstay fees to increase
The company also said that in response to user feedback it was increasing its overstay fees to €8 after 45 minutes on fast and high-power chargers and to €8 after ten hours on standard chargers. Recognising this as perhaps a bit of a blunt instrument, ESB ecars also said that it was developing more graduated interval overstay fees for those that stray over the time limit by only a few minutes.
ESB ecars said that despite maintaining the same fees since it introduced a pay-for-use system in 2019, the price hikes were unavoidable due to the increase in its operational costs with soaring energy prices over the last twelve months.
How much will it cost to run an EV now?
The company used some comparative scenarios to illustrate the costs of running an electric vehicle at the new rates.
For those charging a Nissan Leaf with a 40kWh battery at home, it said, the 400km return journey from Dublin to Galway could be completed by adding an extra 60km of range at an ESB fast charger bringing the total electricity cost for the trip to €10.36.
Recharging the same vehicle for the same journey exclusively using ESB fast-chargers would cost €26.67, whereas the equivalent journey in a Ford Focus diesel would work out at €37.34 at current fuel prices.
Depending on whether the driver is using standard, fast or high-power chargers, savings versus diesel or petrol can be in the margin of 24-38 per cent, increasing further if a mixture of home and public charging is employed.
The company said that those already signed up to use the ESB's public charging network will not have to do anything and can continue to charge as normal after the changes take effect.
Read our feature on every electric car currently on sale in Ireland, with links to our expert reviews of them all