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Unfair charging tariffs
According to an ÖAMTC study, recharging in the cold takes up to 30 minutes longer in the worst case than under ideal conditions.
Unfair charging tariffs
Manufacturers of electric cars advertise charging times of 30 minutes or less. Such values can be achieved at fast charging stations, but only under optimal conditions. “Especially in winter, things usually look very different in practice – especially when the temperatures are really low,” explains Markus Kaiser, e-mobility expert at the ÖAMTC. “On the one hand, longer charging times are of course a loss of convenience, but on the other hand they also represent an additional financial burden: especially at public charging stations, billing is usually based on time.”
The central question: How much electricity arrives in the car's battery at what charge level and what charging time does this result in? Kaiser summarizes: “The charging curves of the individual vehicles sometimes differ greatly.” But what is similar in all models: The charging power fluctuates, is significantly reduced, especially at the beginning of the charging time, and shows a direct dependence on the influences of temperature. In addition, a significant decrease in charging performance was observed in all vehicles when the battery level reached around 80 percent. In general, the differences between the advertised and actual charging times depend primarily on the condition and temperature of the vehicle's traction battery. “Ultimately, these are values that you as a consumer don’t know,” says the ÖAMTC expert. The result: It is practically impossible to estimate in advance how long you will stand at the pillar and how much you will have to pay for the charge if you bill based on time.
Technically, neither charging losses - the mobility club carried out a test on this in summer 2022 - nor fluctuations in charging power can be prevented. However, the current study shows once again why it is problematic that you often still pay for the duration of the charging process - instead of for the electricity that actually arrives in the car. Kaiser: "In view of the test results, we are once again calling for a rapid switch to kilowatt hour-based tariffs or at least a clear separation between charging and any parking fees. This is the only way price transparency is possible - and this is the only way to ensure that you only pay for the electricity you use."