The cost of using rapid and ultra-rapid public electric vehicle chargers finally stopped rising in September with prices likely to begin falling within weeks, according to new data from RAC Charge Watch.

According to the organisation, it currently costs an average of 71.41p per kilowatt hour (kWh) to ‘rapid’ charge an EV on a pay-as-you-go basis, up from 63.29p (13%) a year ago but – for the first time in 2023 – unchanged since a month ago. This means drivers pay £36.56 to charge a family-sized electric car from 0% to 80%, which is most car’s rapid or ultra-rapid charging limit, giving a range of around 188 miles.

The cost to use an ‘ultra-rapid’ charger – one that has a power output of at least 100kW and can provide hundreds of miles of range to many EVs in a matter of minutes – is only slightly more expensive than slower ‘rapid’ chargers at 74.81p per kWh, up from 63.94p (17%) compared to 12 months ago. Drivers needing to complete an 80% charge at one of these chargers have to pay £38.30, around double the comparative cost of charging at home.

However, with electricity prices finally falling the RAC expects to see a reduction in the prices charged by charge point operators (CPOs) in the coming weeks, making the cost to charge at both rapid and ultra-rapid devices cheaper than today.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “The fact charging prices – whether at home or at a public rapid or ultra-rapid charger – appear to have finally peaked can only be good news for drivers, whether they’re already lucky enough to drive an electric vehicle or are considering one as their next vehicle. It’s imperative now that charge point operators (CPOs) reduce their rapid and ultra-rapid charging prices as soon as they can to show they’re on the side of drivers."

Rapid charge prices should begin to fall as energy costs come down