Copie de Recharge publique : combien ça coûte ?
Refuelling with petrol or diesel is simple. You know in advance how much it will cost per litre and, after refuelling, you immediately see how much you have been charged. ‘Refuelling’ with electricity at a public charge point is somewhat less straightforward. If you are not careful, you can end up with a huge bill at the end of the month. Fortunately, there are apps – like the one from MobilityPlus – that conveniently list all possible costs. With us, you know exactly what you will be paying.
Public charging = different everywhere
At public charge points, you often won't find any information regarding tariffs or any additional costs. This is because, with such charge points, there are several parties involved. While the charge point owner sets the charging tariff per kWh, both the charge point operator (Charge Point Operator or CPO) and charge card operator (e-Mobility Service Provider or MSP) can impose their own additional charges, as the maintenance and communications for such charge points cost a substantial amount.
Starting tariff: paying to charge
A starting tariff is a fixed amount you pay to start your charging session. This is usually independent of the price per kWh. It means you pay in order to charge. There are several parties that charge a starting tariff. With MobilityPlus, this is something you will not have to factor in.
Idle fee: a deterrent against hogging charge points
Idle or minute fees correlate with the amount of time you spend parked at a charge point. These are designed to deter 'charge point hogging', i.e. when a fully charged car is left at a charge point, blocking other cars from using it. The idle fee can start building from the moment you start charging, after a few hours or when your battery is full. So be sure not to stay at any charge point for longer than is necessary.
The implementation of idle fees ensures that charge points are not left occupied for any longer than necessary.
Fast or slow charging?
Fast charging at public charge points can be an expensive business. The simple reason is that the devices themselves are expensive to run, while you are putting more strain on the power grid than with slow charging. Therefore, be sure to always ask yourself whether you actually need a fast charge. With proper planning, even slow charging will take ‘only 30 seconds’. At some stores, you can still charge (fast) for free, even without a charge card.
Charging at home or at work = easier
'Private' charging, at home or at work, is much simpler. You simply pay for the cost of the electricity (which is zero if you are charging using solar panels on sunny days). However, you also have to take into account both the installation costs of your charging points and the capacity tariff.
Beware of 'free' charge cards
Some charge cards are free, with no subscription required. However, be careful, as these usually apply a surcharge on top of the charge point's kWh tariff and/or an additional starting tariff on top of that of the owner. At MobilityPlus, we operate based on a monthly subscription, and you don't pay for anything else, such as an additional starting tariff. As a result, you know exactly where you stand.
Can't I just use a credit card?
Could we not move to a system similar to traditional refuelling? Of course, you can do that too, using the MobilityPlus app, which recognises which charge point you are using based on your location. However, charge cards are still a bit cheaper, as they already cover any administrative costs.
Overview with the MobilityPlus app
The MobilityPlus app keeps things simple: at each public charge point, it shows the rate per kWh, along with any starting and/or minute tariff. This allows you to easily compare prices and quickly identify which public charge point is the cheapest. So be sure to always consult the app when using public charge points.