TL;DR Nearly one in three UK public EV chargers give inaccurate readings, often delivering less electricity than displayed. EVCI Global found 31.5% of chargers tested were over- or under-reporting energy, with some errors exceeding 5%. Public EV charging is more expensive than home charging, with VAT at 20% (soon reduced to 5%), making overbilling a bigger financial risk for drivers without home access. Experts call for stricter verification and regulation, similar to petrol pumps, to ensure fairness and transparency.
A new study has found that electric car owners could be paying more to charge their vehicles than the meters suggest.
The review of public charging points discovered that nearly one in three chargers gave incorrect readings. In many cases, the chargers delivered less electricity than the display claimed.
EVCI Global, an independent inspection company, checked hundreds of chargers across the UK. They found that 31.5% of the devices either overestimated or underestimated how much energy was sent to electric cars. Some errors were more than 5%, and a few were even larger.
The company has shared its findings with Parliament's Transport Select Committee. The results suggest EV drivers may be at higher financial risk than drivers of petrol or diesel cars.
Public EV chargers are allowed a small margin of error - up to +2% -, but the study found almost a third of chargers exceeded this. By comparison, petrol pumps must be accurate within -0.5% to +1%.
Craig Marsden, EVCI Global’s CEO, told The Telegraph that one charger he tested gave 37% less electricity than the meter claimed.
This problem hits hardest for drivers without a driveway. Those who can’t charge at home must use public chargers, which are more expensive. Public rates can be three times higher than home electricity, with VAT at 20% compared to 5% for home charging. Some stations charge up to 89p per kWh, meaning long sessions can cost over £70 and annual bills could reach £2,000. Home charging usually costs 26p per kWh, or as little as 7.5p for off-peak EV tariffs.
A recent court ruling has cut VAT on public charging to 5%, matching home rates, after community operator Charge My Street challenged the 20% rate.
EVCI Global and experts are calling for regular checks on chargers to ensure they deliver the correct amount of electricity. Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said:
"Drivers should have the same confidence charging an EV as filling up at a petrol pump. Stronger standards and regular verification are possible and practical, and the government must act."
ChargeUK said inaccurate chargers were “isolated cases” and measuring electricity is more complex than measuring petrol. They also stressed that drivers can monitor the electricity delivered via their car software.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said:
"Public EV charge points are expected to accurately measure and provide the electricity they state. Most meters must meet regulations with an accuracy of 2%, and we expect all providers to follow this."
