Pay to recharge your EV in UAE, One Price to Charge ‘Em All!

ABU DHABI: The UAE is making it a lot simpler to recharge your EV – electric vehicles – with a new rule that brings in uniform charging fees to pay. According to latest news, from September 6, 2024, the cost to juice up your EV will be the same across the country.

Before this, charging prices were all over the place, which made it a bit confusing for EV owners. Some were even providing free charging. With the new system, things are getting streamlined. Charging up for a quick ‘express’ charge will cost at least AED 1.20 plus VAT per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while a ‘slow’ charge will be AED 0.70 plus VAT per kWh.

This new pricing is a game-changer for EV owners. For starters, it means you won’t have to hunt around for the best deal or stress about fluctuating prices at different stations. It also levels the playing field among service providers, pushing them to up their game in terms of charging facilities and customer service rather than just competing on price.

Plus, with this uniform fee, the EV charging network in the UAE is likely to expand. Investors are more likely to put their money into building and running charging stations if they know there’s a steady stream of revenue. This makes it easier and more convenient to find a place to charge your EV.

However, there’s a flip side. Some folks might end up paying more if they used to get cheaper or free charging. And with more people expected to use EVs, making sure there are enough charging stations to keep things running smoothly will be key to avoiding any hiccups.

Overall, this move is a big step forward. If managed well, it could make owning and using an EV in the UAE even more attractive and practical for everyone.

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In a nutshell, it looks like free charging at public stations might end soon, though there hasn’t been an official announcement yet. We’re still waiting for the government to roll out all the details, but it seems the new fees will only apply to public charging stations. Fast or express charging will be AED 1.20 per kWh, plus VAT. Slow charging will cost AED 0.70 per kWh, plus VAT.

The new EV charging fees are expected to start on 6 September 2024.