EV Drivers Expose $671 Charging Bill, Push Rules for “Public” Stations
Updated
Updated · Electrek · Jun 6
EV Drivers Expose $671 Charging Bill, Push Rules for “Public” Stations
1 articles · Updated · Electrek · Jun 6
Summary
$671.60 at a Sycamore, Illinois charger and $15 per kWh at a New Jersey Hyundai dealer became flashpoints in a growing backlash against EV stations labeled “public” but priced or operated to deter drivers.
Steve Birkett said many dealer chargers are blocked by store hours, security gates, slow speeds or signs discouraging use, leaving first-time EV owners with a bad charging experience that reflects on EVs themselves.
The report argues weak pricing rules let charge-point operators avoid the kind of visible street-side price disclosure required at gas stations, making it easier to overcharge inexperienced drivers.
Proposed fixes include at least 16 hours of public access, prominent per-kWh pricing signs, caps on markups over real energy costs, and aggressive clawbacks of public incentive dollars for noncompliant sites.