Drivers can spend £1k more each year with an electric car for a simple reason

THE cost-of-living crisis is putting a squeeze on budgets up and down the country – and motorists are looking to cut costs at every turn.

But some electric cars might be costing drivers over a thousand pounds extra every year.

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For electric car users without off-street parking, the cost of charging their car can top out at a whopping £1,320 per year.

With inflation hitting its highest levels in 40 years and fuel prices sky-rocketing, many motorists may be considering turning to electric vehicles.

But electric car drivers that don’t have off-street parking are splashing out – paying on average £1,155 more per year than users with a driveway.

While at-home charging remains the most popular option for electric car owners, as many as one in three users don’t have that option.

The average cost of charging an electric car on a public charger has increased by over 20 percent since September 2021, according to ThisIsMoney.

So drivers without an at-home charging port are penalised by having to pay a higher rate of VAT on electricity.

The soaring costs of driving an electric vehicle remain cheaper than filling up a petrol car, but there is a way owners can top up their batteries for free, according to experts at Electrifying.com.

Of the 35,000 public charging points dotted around the nation, over 5,000 are free to use – including at many supermarkets and tourist spots.

However, new research found that access to these charging locations is still extremely unequal.

Residents in Scotland, London and the South East benefit from nearly half of the nation’s free chargers.

Meanwhile, the North East is the stingiest electric ‘refuelling’ area with just 154 free ports.

Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl and Aldi also offer free charging at many stores across the country to help to offset the rising cost of food bills.

Ginny Buckley, founder and CEO of Electrifying.com, said: “Those without off-street parking – which is around one third of drivers nationally – are already paying up to £1,320 each year to charge.

“This is why we need local authorities right across the country to step up their game when it comes to charging infrastructure.

“While free charging is a brilliant incentive for some businesses, it won’t be a solution for everyone.

“That’s why I’m calling for VAT on public charge points to be reduced from 20% to 5% to bring it in line with the cost of charging at home.

“I would also like to see energy providers introduce cheaper night tariffs at public charge points to help balance the supply grid and benefit those without access to off-street parking.”