EV charging prices: what drives the difference?

EV charging prices can swing dramatically, sometimes even between chargers just a few steps apart. We know that this unpredictability can be frustrating, leaving you unsure of what you’ll pay until you plug in. That’s because a variety of factors influence the final price you see. The tariffs are set by the Charge Point Operator (CPO) and can be built up from different elements: per hour or per session, these are always the same. Or, they can be set flexible: per time frame (day/night tariff) or dynamically based on the location and its market price.

In the Netherlands., Mobility Service Providers (MSP) are responsible for communicating these prices. This is regulated by the OCPI protocol which exchanges your data such as token information for authorisation, sessions to see where you have charged in order to bill accordingly, locations to show where you can charge, and tariffs to see how much you will have to pay.

To help cut through the confusion, we’ve broken down the main elements that shape charging costs, so you know exactly what’s at play when you charge your EV.

How are drivers using an E-Flux card charged

E-Flux receives tariffs from CPOs, and these prices can be seen in the E-Flux app when you search for a charging station. Sometimes rates will be missing; we are aware of this and are actively working on a solution. These tariffs are set by the CPO, and the overall price includes both the CPO tariff and the charge card compensation (this can be our Flex or Comfort subscription).

Tariffs can vary depending on factors such as location, operator, or type of charging station. For example, AC chargers are generally cheaper than DC chargers. The latter charge faster and require a much higher investment - in some cases costing more than €100,000 - so CPOs set higher tariffs to cover these costs.

What affects charging prices for CPOs that use E-Flux by Road

As a CPO using E-Flux, you set your own tariffs, which can be based on various factors such as kWh, time (per hour), per session, scheduled rates, idle fees, or dynamic pricing linked to the energy market. The tariff you set is the price we pay you. For non-E-Flux card users, we add a €0.03 per kWh transaction fee to cover the maintenance of our roaming network. If you notice different tariffs displayed in our app, this may be because the receiving party - the MSP - has adjusted the price for their customers. These adjustments are outside of our control, as MSPs are free to set their own retail prices.

How this works for E-Flux charge cards

Naturally, E-Flux operates in the same way, as there’s no way around it. However, we do offer a discount when you choose an E-Flux Comfort subscription. With our Comfort subscription, you only pay €3.23 including VAT per month with a one-time setup fee of €9.99. Beyond that, there’s no starting fee when charging your car and no extra charges for using a non-E-Flux charging station.

Additionally, with an E-Flux charge card (both Flex and Comfort), you’ll always receive a €0.03 discount excluding VAT on your charging sessions with an E-Flux charging station, compared to other cards. Our invoices are sent out monthly, giving you a clear overview of your total costs rather than dealing with constant price fluctuations. We cannot fix the uncertainty, but we try everything to provide the most comfort.