EV charging pricing explained: your most common questions answered

Who sets the final cost for a charging session?

A charging session’s price is made up of several components:

1. The electricity component. This is the price per kWh, which also includes additional fees set by the CPO (Charge Point Operator).

2. A time component which is usually an hourly fee. This can also be an idle fee that will be charged when you are still connected to a charger while your vehicle is fully charged.

3. A fixed session fee that never changes. The CPO determines the charging tariff. They send the tariff information over to the Mobility Service Provider (MSP) via OCPI, so the MSP can inform the customer.

However, if you use a charge card issued by an MSP, the MSP will charge you. This could mean you have to pay an additional cost per kWh or per session, a monthly subscription fee, or a fixed kWh fee that supersedes the CPO's tariff. This could mean you have to pay an additional cost per kWh or per session, a monthly subscription fee, or a fixed kWh fee that supersedes the CPO's tariff. For E-Flux by Road it works as follows:

• We receive the session from the CPO
• Our MSP customer that uses an E-Flux charge card is paying the exact amount of that session as stated by the CPO.
• Based on your plan, you pay additionally for each session. For Flex this is 0.31 per session and 0.024 per kWh. For Comfort, there are no additional costs per session, but a fixed subscription fee of €3.23 per month.

Why do charging prices vary between chargers or networks

Charging prices can differ from one charging station or network to another because every operator sets its own tariffs. These prices depend on factors like energy costs, infrastructure investments, operational expenses, and any additional services included. Your charge card provider also influences the final price you pay. When you charge within your provider’s own network, you often benefit from lower rates or specific discounts.

For example, if you charge at an E-Flux by Road charging station as an E-Flux customer, you automatically receive a €0.03 roaming discount. External users (those charging with a card from another provider) don’t receive this discount and instead pay a roaming fee. This means the exact tariff you pay depends on two things:

• Where you charge (the charging station operator’s pricing);

• Who your charge card provider is (your subscription terms and roaming agreements).

Does E-Flux control or influence the charging tariff?

In short: yes and no.

No single party has full control over the final cost. However, E-Flux plays an important role in facilitating and enabling those tariffs. Through the E-Flux platform, CPOs can configure their pricing, apply different rates (for example, per kWh, per hour, or per session), and adjust their tariffs whenever needed. E-Flux ensures these prices are communicated to roaming partners and displayed correctly to EV drivers.

While E-Flux provides the tools and the technical backend, the actual tariff is determined by the station owner.

What is roaming, and how does it affect pricing?

Roaming means that you can charge your vehicle at different charging networks. To say it in short: roaming is the enablement of open network use for electric charging. Instead of needing a separate card or app for every provider, roaming creates a network of interconnected charging operators, similar to how mobile phone providers let you use your phone abroad or how a public Wi-Fi network lets you connect from different access points.

This convenience does come with an impact on pricing. When you use a charging station outside your card issuer’s own network, an additional roaming fee may apply. This fee covers the agreements and data exchanges between the CPO and the MSP behind your charge card. As a result, the price you pay at a roaming station can be slightly higher than if you were charging within your provider’s own network.

Why might the price shown in an app differ from the final billed price?

The E-Flux app shows the tariff we receive from the CPO. Including VAT. The additional MSP fees of our subscription are not included in that tariff. Other MSPs show the tariffs that reflect their MSP offering. For example, some MSPs bill flat fees (fixed kWh fees) to you. So you will see those tariffs instead of the CPO tariff.

Does E-Flux add any extra fees to the charging price?

For E-Flux by Road, you only pay for the charge card subscription of your choice. There are two subscription possibilities. You can choose the 'Comfort' (link) subscription, which includes €3.23 per month, the kWh price at the charging station, and the CPO-set kWh tariff. Flex is another option for more occasional card use: you pay a per-use fee of €0.31 per session and a kWh fee of 0.024 in addition to the CPO's tariff. For transparency, we show this as a separate rule on the invoice. Both card plans require a one-time handling and shipping fee of €9.99. The prices include VAT.

How is the final cost of a charging session calculated?

Charging costs are made up of several components:

Comfort

• You charge at a station, and the kWh price is €0.40 excl. VAT. You charge for 10 kWh;

• You pay 10 x 0.40 = 4;

• Add 21% VAT: 1.21 * 4 = 4.84;

• For the subscription you pay €3.23;

• The total of your invoice is 3.23 + 4.84 = 8.07.

Flex

• You charge at a station, and the kWh price is €0.40 excl. VAT. You charge for 10 kWh;

• You pay 10 x 0.40 = 4;

• Add 21% VAT: 1.21 * 4 = 4.84;

• For the Flex plan you will pay an additional 0.024 * 10 = 0.24 and 0.31 per session;

• That is €0.55 in total costs;

• The total of your invoice is 0.55 + 4.84 = 5.39.

Note: in this example Comfort seems more expensive. But if you charge more than five times per month with the card, Comfort will be cheaper for you.

In practice, the operator sets their base rate, we add any applicable service or subscription fees, and VAT is calculated on top. For example, if the base rate is €0.40/kWh with a €0.03 roaming fee, the price becomes €0.43/kWh, and with 21% VAT, the final consumer rate is approximately €0.52/kWh.

We don’t set the charging prices – we simply invoice based on the operator’s tariff plus our service fees.

What should I do if I think a session price is incorrect or higher than expected?

If a charging session seems too high, start by checking the full tariff breakdown in our Help Centre. This explains how prices are calculated and which fees may apply.

Next, compare the amount with your charge card provider’s rates, as your MSP may add fees or apply different pricing than the charging station itself.

If it still doesn’t look right, review the session details (kWh, duration, possible idle fees). And if something still seems off, contact E-Flux support with the session ID so we can investigate.