The electric car seems to be the solution to many problems but perhaps not so much for the consumer's pocket... at least at gas stations. The Government intends to install charging points at gas stations by law, however, this currently involves a cost triple as expensive than to refuel a diesel car.
The draft of the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law - you can read more about it in this article de The Economist– establishes that all gas stations with sales of more than five million liters of fuel per year They should install a charging point for electric vehicles of 22 kW or more power -they will have a maximum term of 27 months from the approval of the law. This measure thus affects some 1.200 service stations throughout the Spanish territory, which will add at least one charging point (the number will vary) in their facilities.
So far "all good". The problem is that what might seem like a solution and an advance, is going to mean a really high expense for the owner of the vehicle. And it is that for the price of the chargers to be equal to that of gasoline or diesel, the gas stations should receive a subsidy of almost 70% of the installation as well as other additional aids, something that will not happen, triggering a recharge price that today is not regulated.
Having said this, it may be difficult for you to visualize what quantities we are talking about, so let's put a practical case: a 100 kilometer trip. These are the Prices calculated to pay at a gas station according to the type of car you have:
- Diesel car: 8 euros (0,08 euros/kilometre)
- Gasoline car: 14 euros (0,14 euros/kilometre)
- Electric car: 24 euros (0,24 euros/kilometre)
This bulky price is a reflection of the viability of the chargers, which in order to be profitable, charge the kWh (kilowatt/hour) 1 1,21 euros, ten times more than what it would cost to recharge it at home -or up to 14 times If you have time discrimination hours and you charge your electric in off-peak hours, it could cost you 0,012 euros per kilometer (1,2 euros for the planned trip).
A lot of investment for so little car
The problem, as we indicated, is in the high cost of this installation for gas stations, mandatory by law at the time it is approved. The companies assure that 27 months to become an electric station is very short and that these charging points “they are not profitable at all” due to the very little demand that still exists.
Each station (equipment and installation) has a cost of about 30.00 euros (not counting electricity and maintenance), although they can vary between 20.000 and 70.000 euros. Given the charging time, each point may be able to supply about ten cars per day on average. Regarding the number of electric cars circulating in the country, the figure is only 10.000 vehicles. The accounts do not come out.