In recent news, the cost of refuelling electric vehicles in Australia is on the rise as Chargefox, which operates the largest electric vehicle-charging network in the country, plans to raise the cost of recharging cars at selected sites in New South Wales and Victoria. This announcement comes after similar price hikes by Ampol and Evie Networks in February.
Chargefox has revealed plans to increase prices for 20 of its fast-charging stations, with an 11% increase in the cost of recharging cars in locations including Ballina and Sydney in NSW and Ballarat and Torquay in Victoria. The price of charging at these locations will increase from 40 cents per kilowatt-hour to 45 cents.
The company states that to continue providing the best service, they need to factor in recent rises in energy prices. The rising cost of electricity in Australia is driving up the cost of operating electric vehicles.
However, electric vehicle experts suggest that most drivers can still save money compared to operating a petrol car by changing their charging behaviour. By planning their trips and charging at work or home, they can avoid rising costs. Furthermore, they may also choose to recharge their vehicles from solar energy, which will further reduce their energy costs.
According to an analysis by the Electric Vehicle Council, petrol vehicles typically cost 14 cents per kilometre to run, compared to four cents per kilometre for electric cars. Therefore, despite the price rises, drivers can still save money by switching to electric cars.
Swinburne University’s Future Urban Mobility, Hussein Dia, said that the price rises were not unexpected given the growing cost of electricity in Australia, and most drivers would still save money compared to operating a petrol car.
The change could also encourage more electric car drivers to recharge their vehicles from solar energy, which is more environmentally friendly and reduces costs. Australia currently has almost 2400 public electric vehicle charging locations, with their number growing from 1614 stations to 2392 last year, according to the EV Council.
While the rising cost of electricity may lead to higher public charging fees in the future, most motorists will be able to avoid steep price rises by planning their trips and charging at work or home. In conclusion, electric vehicles still provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to petrol cars in Australia.
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