- EG Group brought in live pricing on totem poles in 2021 – but has it caught on?
With unleaded and diesel prices clearly displayed before drivers enter the forecourt, it is simple to compare prices and know whether they’re being ripped off.
It gives clarity and transparency over how much it will cost to fill up per litre.
But what about EV charging signage?
How are you expected to know how much you’ll have to pay before you plug in and get a potentially nasty shock?
Do EV charging stations have polls with per unit pricing at service stations and charging hubs? And if not, when are they coming?
We take a look at EV charging signage and pricing, and the latest regulations that aim to give EV drivers greater transparency and ease when it comes to charging their car.
2021 saw the first EV charging pricing to be added to forecourt poles, but the EG Group remains the outlier in doing this, leaving electric car owners unclear about charging prices elsewhere
What signage is there currently at charging hubs and motorway service stations?
At the moment there’s very little signage to show EV owners how much they’ll be paying to charge at motorway service stations or charging hubs.
In fact, in 2021 EG Group became the first chargepoint operator to introduce forecourt poles with per unit charging prices at its ultra-rapid chargers.
In 2024 EG Group was still the outlier in having this signage – something that’s implemented at 50 of its sites.
So, don’t expect to drive up to chargers and see big signage with EV charging prices displayed.
Why isn’t there more signage at EV charging locations?
Motor Fuel Group has said it will ‘comply’ and introduce signage when it becomes ‘mandatory’
Currently government regulation doesn’t explicitly require charging operators to put pricing on boards so the majority don’t.
Despite campaign groups including FairCharge and the RAC calling for charging signage to change and totems to have pricing, the idea has been slow to take off with providers other than EG.
Some rival operators have said they will make the move when the Government does update its policy.
Motor Fuel Group told Forecourt Trader in April: ‘The topic is continually under review and were it to become mandatory in the UK, MFG would comply’.
Other industry bodies have pointed to the expense of rolling out signage with Brian Donaldson, chief executive of The Maxol Group, calling for ‘longer lead-in times to prepare both operationally and financially’.
Donaldson said: ‘Price comparison signage should not be introduced at the expense of the roll-out of EV charging facilities at forecourts.
‘The principle is a good one, but the application needs further consideration.’
How can I tell how much I’ll get charged for charging my car?
Since November 2024 all new charging points have to clearly display the p/kWh and the total amount a user will have to pay -either on a screen or via an app or payment website
The cost of EV charging is calculated by price per kWh – that’s the tariff price.
Last year the Government update regulations, requiring clear pricing of the p/kWh rate so people can easily know how much they’ll be charged.
This figure, for example 24.5p/kWh, will be displayed on the charger.
This includes the connection fees.
The p/kWh cost either has to be shown on the charge point itself or through the app or on-time payment website. Often, you’ll see pricing displayed on the digital screens of chargers or on stickers on those that don’t have screens.
Many on-street chargers will have QR to scan that will then show you the p/kWh.
If you want to check the price of a charger ahead of time, then either search via your car’s infotainment system or using a charger locator app such as ZapMap.
As per the regulations, all new public charge points with a power output of over 8kW and existing charge points above 50kW need a contactless payment solution starting in November 2024.
The rule applies to all slow, fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid public charge points.
Do all EV chargers now offer contactless payment?
Contactless payment on all chargers above 8KW has been mandatory since November 2024
This was also addressed in the updated 2024 regulations.
Now all new public charge points 8kW and above (typically on-street chargers such as lamppost chargers) have to have a contactless payment solution.
All existing charge points above 50kW have need a contactless payment solution since November 2024. too and applies to all slow, fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid public charge points.
