Tech
EV charging solutions to cope with high electricity prices in Europe
The intensifying war in Ukraine is sparking an energy crisis in Europe, with everyone witnessing unfathomable increases in electricity prices. And there are no signs that the energy crisis will improve anytime soon, as Russia says it will not fully restore gas supplies to Europe until Western sanctions are lifted. In such an environment, electric vehicle charging station operators and consumers face a brutal winter.
Tesla raise European Supercharger rates
Tesla has sent an email to European owners in which the company warns of another massive price increase coming to Superchargers. In the email, Tesla blamed rising energy prices in Europe for the current price hike.
In Germany, Supercharger rates are climbing to 69 to 71 cents per kilowatt hour, according to Teslamag. The previous prices of 56 to 58 cents per kWh have been effective since May. That represents a premium of about 23 percent. Compared to the 0.37 euros/kWh charged until August 2021, the current rates of up to 71 cents represent a price increase of almost 92 percent. At the same time, the price for third-party electric cars at the Supercharger rose to 80 to 82 cents, up from 70 to 71 cents previously.
Allego and Shell Recharge again raise charging prices
Tesla is not alone on this route. In Europe, Allego announced a further price increase for its charging stations on 7 October – although the previous price round only took place on 1 September. In Germany, Shell Recharge is already increasing its rates at the end of the month.
In Germany, the kilowatt-hour price at the company’s own AC charging points will rise from 47 to 60 cents from 7 October. For DC charging up to 50 kW, 75 cents per kilowatt hour will be charged at Allego from the effective date (previously 70 cents). For DC chargers with more than 50 kW, the kWh price will rise from 75 to 80 cents. By comparison, before the current price round, DC charging with more than 50 kW was possible for 68 cents, while AC charging cost 43 cents per kWh from January 2022 until the end of August in Germany.
integrated solution of solar+energy storage+charging
SETEC POWER officially launched the integrated solution of solar+energy storage+charging under the combination of industry trends and customer suggestions. This integrated system consists of two parts: solar panel and controller + energy storage system + EV charger. The solar panel is pre-mounted, requiring only simple mounting bracket screws for use. Another part of the system combines the controller, energy storage system, and EV charger in a single enclosure, maximizing installation space and cost savings.
SETEC POWER’s new solution is now the perfect choice to cope with soaring European electricity prices. For charging station operators, the solar charging solution reduces operating costs significantly and allows excess electricity to be sold using a battery storage system. For individual households, our solar charging solution not only reduces the cost of charging electric vehicles but also allows the stored excess power to be used to meet the needs of the household grid.
European countries are considering reforming their energy markets. However, it is unlikely that fundamental changes will be pushed through in time to help this winter. If you’re struggling to charge your electric car, consider SETEC POWER, a solar solution.
Harper Harrison is a reporter for The Hear UP. Harper got an internship at the NPR and worked as a reporter and producer. harper has also worked as a reporter for the Medium. Harper covers health and science for The Hear UP.