Hot topics

How IONITY's price bump for charging EVs in Europe is a slap in the face

mobility electric 01
© Nick Starichenko/Shutterstock

Read in other languages:

As of January 31, an increase in the price of electricity that recharges the cars of tomorrow will take effect on all of the charging points in Europe supplied by IONITY, the leading network for high-power-charging electric vehicles. The increase could be catastrophic for vital growth in green mobility.

This European high-powered charging network is growing rapidly and currently has more than 200 charging stations with more than 860 charging points across 20 countries. IONITY's new pricing is based on a price per kilowatt-hour rather than a unit price per recharge.

IONITY is a joint venture between the BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, the Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group. Now, some connected mobility service providers (guess which ones!) are offering contracts for discounts. These contracts are not compulsory, customers who do not subscribe to them will soon have to pay €0.79 per kWh, which considerably increases the cost of charging electric vehicles.

So far the rule has been simple: €8 per refill. That is the price if you charge today. No need to calculate the cost per kWh... But IONITY has chosen to change the rules of the game. After a few simple calculations here is the result. A full tank of 60 kWh should, therefore, cost €47.40, and a full tank of 100 kWh will cost you €79. The smallest battery size you can have in a Tesla Model 3 is 54 kWh, meaning it'll cost you €42.66 to fully charge it. As you can see, we are moving a long way away from the old €8 flat rate.

mobility electric 06
The electric car will no longer be economical for long journeys. / © mikolajn/Shutterstock

IONITY's co-founding brands get a discount

Please note that not all-electric vehicles are affected by this increase. Not surprisingly, the brands co-founding the project will benefit from preferential rates, provided that their Mercedes Charge, BMW ChargeNow, Volkswagen WeCharge, Porsche Charging Service or Audi e-tron Charging Service users have taken out a specific subscription. This subscription will allow you to benefit from a much lower cost per kWh, ranging from €0.30 to €0.35 per kWh.

Michael Hajesch, CEO of Ionity, said: "It has always been IONITY’s aim to build a uniform and coherent network to make seamless, high-speed, long-distance electric mobility across Europe a reality. Providing customers with unparalleled levels of service is key to our business." The decision to install 350 kW charging stations is undoubtedly the direct consequence of a new vision that is accompanied by higher rates.

Turning charging stations in profit pumps

What a pity that IONITY seems to think more about its financial interests than the collective interest. The company also appears to have chosen to benefit the customers of the major car brands that are members of the joint venture, and to essentially tax those who invest in competing brands with higher charging prices. This makes it much harder for non-German-owned manufacturers to compete in Europe. Did somebody just say... Tesla?

AndroidPIT tesla model 3 side2
A Tesla Model 3 in Berlin, Germany. / © NextPit

It would be a shame if such an increase in recharging prices were to hamper potential buyers of these vehicles of tomorrow. Today more than ever, we need to use clean vehicles to preserve the planet, while continuing to use vehicles that accompany us on our travels. In my opinion, the next objective would be to make them accessible to all with lower prices, and not the other way round.

What do you think about electric cars and this price increase at the charging station? We look forward to hearing from you!

Top Samsung Galaxy Watches: Choosing Your Best Fit

  2023 models 2023 models 2022 models 2022 models 2021 models 2021 models
Product
Image Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Product Image Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Product Image Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Product Image
Review
Review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Not yet tested
Not yet tested
Review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Not yet tested
Offers*
Go to comment (2)
Maureen Quéméner

Maureen Quéméner
Editor France

In tech, I am mainly interested in sustainable creations, solutions and innovations. It is a big preoccupation today so I am delighted to follow the news regarding the evolution of all types of services and products respecting the environment, as well as companies behaviors. Also, I am always excited to know more about all updates, news and tips about all technologies and apps used by millions of people. Last thing, in my personal life I am an Apple user, and love it, I recently noticed that I am clearly addict to their products...

View all articles
Liked this article? Share now!
Recommended articles
Latest articles
Push notification Next article
2 comments
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

  • 1
    Moth Feb 4, 2020 Link to comment

    We are in the real world. The world that wants us all to drive electric vehicles and the sooner the better. Sadly, my EV is a Jaguar, so I am paying near the maximum for a full charge and it hurts - not least because it is now more expensive than either petrol or diesel. Already, my journeys were taking much longer than before, thanks to the lies that are told about battery range. Now they are more expensive. I could hire a small car for less than the price of the charge. Not logical at all!


  • marco sarli 39
    marco sarli
    • Admin
    Jan 24, 2020 Link to comment

    Wellcome to the real world. That is how families, businesses and the rest of the world pay for electricity. And yes,it is a business and they want to make as much profit as possible.