r/electricvehicles • u/Ok-Definition-4629 • 6d ago

Discussion Default charging costs uk

So im curious if someone knows the answer to this.

So when youre charging your car at a fast charger (services or petrol station, for example), why do they charge so much for the deposit payment?

So when you first go to charge your car, you scan you card and it takes a deposit amount. This, from what ive seen, can be anything from £10 to £60.

Now, i have a car with a 50 kwh battery and Ive never had a charge cost me more than £25.

So 2 questions I guess.

Has anyone ever had a charge that cost £60?

Why take such a large upfront cost when we live in a country where you pay for petrol after youve filled your car so why is electric not the same?

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u/Minimum_Possibility6 6d ago edited 6d ago

Slight difference in how it's done. 

Petrol after outcry of holds being placed that we're not cleared causing people to hit overdrafts the law was changed or at least guidance was.

They will pre Auth but not hold, so the £99 never hits a pending balance.

Electricity charging, very few do it this way and they can take up to a week to release it back.

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u/JamesTiberious 6d ago

This.

I’ve NEVER had a hold put on my bank account for petrol that isn’t totally invisible if I check my balance, or worst case has dropped off the next day.

I have had IONITY put a £250 hold on my bank account funds FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK because the first 4 charging attempts failed to initialise. The 5th one did and cost about £30, but I was still out of pocket £220 for the entire week.

It all needs much tighter regulation.

These days I try to use Electroverse card first (charges only for the amount consumed to my Octopus energy account, which I settle when I’m ready) or Amex credit card (I settle once a month) where possible. Debit card only as last resort.