The shocking cost of future electric vehicle charging -
That might include yours....
With electric vehicles in the UK currently zero-rated for road excise duty, governments will need to recoup lost taxation - through the electric 'fuel' is likely the big choice....
Feel the jolt in your wallet? What will future charging costs look like?
They won't be cheap and you are likely to end up getting hit by future high costs
Currently, you may be enjoying 'acceptable level' tariffs for charging your electric vehicle that seem cheap now, but that could all be set to change.
Although you can charge a vehicle at home, or on a public charger, the actual cost can be as high as the equivalent liquid Petrol or Diesel fuel alternative to fill the fuel tank up. Surprised?
Well, there's more to be wary of and you should heed this warning.
Electric vehicles currently enjoy zero road charge costs - that is, unlike liquid fuelled vehicles using Petrol or Diesel in the UK, they don't get charged duty on the fuel when purchased and/or in some cases a vehicle excise duty charge when the vehicle is used on the road or if they emit over a certain CO2 level. So far so good for the EV's
Vehicle Excise duty as currently levied does not take into account your vehicle usage, it is solely based on engine size and CO2 output - EV's may in future be taxed on their motor wattage. So a 2 seater EV would be cheaper than a 4 seater EV or SUV-EV to use.
All well and good so far.
I see the future of electric vehicles as great for city use, in short journeys and local travel under 100 miles a day. However, the great uplift in electricity capacity to feed this need for the power to motivate these vehicles will have to be met with more certainty than relying on 'green' energy - did you know that Diesel generators back up 'Green' when 'Green' fails? Someone will have to pay for the future EV charge-related uplift and Mr or MRS EV Owner, that's going to be you.
How governments may then make you pay...
Yes, there's no such thing as a free lunch and no free rides either. It is a case of have EV now and pay later.
With a massive shortfall in taxable duty with a shift to electric vehicles, you as an EV owner will face one issue - The charging point's costs. Because that is an unavoidable point where you can be taxed.
Likely, these are already 'smart' charging units and have the capacity wired into be updatable by remote methods. Overnight, these could be reset to 'tax' the EV charge you use by any amount that those in control choose to apply.
So, today's charge of your EV might cost you £30 to charge, tomorrow it could be £100 and there is nothing you can do about it. Except pay if you want to travel by EV.
Having ditched your fossil fuelled vehicle for a 'green' one, you might be looking a bit sour around the chops when your future electricity bill shows how much your EV charges are now costing even if you only charge at home and not out at a public charging point.
Motorway service areas often have costlier road fuels than otherwise, on motorways, your EV is a captive audience and these establishments need to turn a profit, otherwise they go out of business.
If you run out of charge, your EV will need a full-suspended recovery - your EV cannot be towed except perhaps only onto the recovery truck and recovery companies will soon realise this and hit you with higher recovery charges in this situation.
Rather than go down the road of unpopular road pricing, my prediction is that governments will get their pound of flesh another way and tax you at the charging point wherever that occurs - be it at your home or at a public facility. Smart charging with Smart pricing will leave you smarting.
Once you are 'converted' to Green EV's you are a prisoner of the system.
Don't say you haven't been warned. Someone has likely already reached this same conclusion as me on how to make your EV pay like a fossil fuel car does.
They are just playing the waiting game until there is a large enough EV ownership and no means of escape before applying these cost charges. Then see if I am right.
