Due to the energy and cost-of-living crisis, the cost of charging an electric vehicle is now almost as much as the equivalent cost for petrol/gasoline. In the UK, the cost of charging at a Pay-As-You-Go rapid charger has increased 42% since May, according to RAC reports (UK’s Report on Motoring) this past week.[1] This means drivers now pay 18p per mile to drive their electric vehicle, compared to 19p for petrol (gas) cars.[2]
The motoring group said the average price for using the chargers has increased by 18.75p per kilowatt hour (kWh) since May, reaching 63.29p per kWh.
The latest figures show a driver exclusively using rapid or ultra-rapid public chargers pays (in UK pounds) around 18 pence (“p”) per mile for electricity, compared with roughly 19p per mile for petro/gasl and 21p per mile for diesel. The rise has been blamed on the soaring wholesale costs of gas and electricity. The singular of pence is "penny." The symbol for the penny is "p"; hence an amount such as 50p is often pronounced "fifty pee" rather than "fifty pence". One (1) Pound sterling equals, 1.11 US Dollar.
A UK e-automotive spokesman recently said, "It remains the case that charging away from home costs less than refueling a petrol or diesel car, but these figures show that the gap is narrowing as a result of the enormous increases in the cost of electricity. "These figures very clearly show that it's drivers who use public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers the most who are being hit the hardest." A recent survey of 12,500 drivers showed that rising domestic energy prices are putting many people off from switching to an electric car.
Tesla, an EV giant, have been ordered to 'recall' more than 1.1 million cars in the US due to their windows closing too quickly. CEO Elon Musk criticized the decision to call it a 'recall', saying it is only a software update.[3] That is unless your child has his hand in the way of the window. Previous Tesla recalls have been due to other cyber issues:
- rear-view cameras
- bonnet latches
- seat-belt reminders
- sound-system software
The latest recall covers all four Tesla models, specifically 2017-22 Model 3 sedans and some 2020-21 Model Y SUVs (sports utility vehicles), Model S sedans and Model X SUVs. Tesla discovered the problem with the automatic windows during production testing last month (in August 2022).
Inflation hitting the automotive industry. The Director of Automobile at Suzuki GB has told car manufacturers to plan ahead with a 'recessionary mindset', with what looks to be a difficult few months ahead for the industry. The director urged car retailers to implement a plan that would prepare them for the challenges ahead as consumer confidence looked to be increasingly hard-hit by inflation of around 10%.[4]
“A lot of people they complain about the lack of success they have had from a plan they didn’t write,” he said. “I think it’s important that you actually develop a plan and execute it. It’s important in times of recission to be clear about what you value proposition is and why they should choose you. Thinking about how you appeal to a retailer with a recessionary mindset is one of the key ingredients,” he said.
[1] https://www.rac.co.uk/report-on-motoring
[2] https://news.sky.com/story/cost-of-charging-an-electric-car-surges-by-42-caused-by-rise-in-energy-costs-12705528
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62996103
[4] https://www.am-online.com/news/latest-news/2022/09/23/am-news-show-car-retailers-must-adopt-recessionary-mindset-says-suzuki-gb-s-dale-wyatt
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