The Social Democrats have raised concerns that the owners of public chargers are ‘price gouging’ EV owners. 

The opposition party has called for a Government inquiry into the matter, following news that EV charging network IONITY is increasing their prices. 

While it has always been cheaper to charge an EV at home than at a public charging point, the Social Democrats said it worries customers are being “fleeced”. 

“IONITY are increasing their prices to 85 cents per kilowatt hour and that will be 30%, roughly, more than what the ESB are charging for an equivalent service at an EV charging point,” Jennifer Whitmore told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“I suppose I'm just getting concerned that there doesn't seem to be any sort of regulation of the prices that people are having to pay across the country at these charging stations. 

“We're sort of seeing this creep upwards of the prices and the reality is that there are many, many people who rely on those charging points to charge their EVs.” 

An EV charging at home. Picture by: Alamy.com.

The Wicklow TD added that she fears the cost of public charging will make people “think twice” about purchasing an EV, which risks creating a “two tier system”. 

“This is probably my primary concern with all this, is that we need everybody to be able to move to EVs because petrol and diesel prices are just skyrocketing,” she said. 

“But if you live in a terrace house, if you live in a very urban area, if you don't have a driveway, if you rent, if you live in an apartment, you're really getting locked out of the EV market.” 

Deputy Whitmore continued that Ireland is currently on track to miss legally binding EU emission targets and risks huge fines as a consequence. 

“Probably the biggest financial risk to us at the moment is the potential €28 billion in fines that Europe could hand down if we don't meet our 2030 targets,” she said. 

“One of the key things of meeting our targets was a government commitment to have 1 million EV cars on the road by 2030. 

“Now we are very far away from that.”

IONITY has been contacted for comment. 

Main image: An EV charging point. Picture by: Geoff Smith / Alamy.