A new study has raised eyebrows in the EV world after suggesting some public chargers may not always deliver exactly what drivers think they’re paying for.
Testing by inspection firm EVCI Global found that around 31% of the chargers it assessed measured energy outside the allowed tolerance, with a small number showing much larger discrepancies. In extreme cases, a charger reportedly delivered 37% less energy than displayed on the screen.
The issue has now been raised with Parliament, with calls for EV chargers to be regulated more like petrol pumps, where measurement accuracy is tightly controlled.
Industry body ChargeUK pushed back, saying these are isolated cases and highlighting that measuring electricity transfer is more complex than dispensing liquid fuel.
For drivers, the takeaway is simple: trust in charging matters. As EV adoption grows, accuracy, transparency and regulation will be key to maintaining confidence in the public charging network.
From The EV Café sofa:
“There are losses in the charger, but the customer doesn’t pay for that…we only charge what leaves the nozzle.”
Sam Clarke
“From the nozzle into the vehicle, that’s the bit the consumer pays for, so that’s the bit that matters.”
Sarah Sloman