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Charging costs: What should you pay and at which charging points?
Electric driving is the future, and more drivers are already appreciating the many benefits. Meanwhile, most have overcome their charging anxiety, as charging points are popping up everywhere like mushrooms. And with intelligent apps like the Q8 app, you know in advance what you'll pay at each charging point. But in practice, things can sometimes be slightly different: the prices from different providers vary widely. How come? And why can there sometimes be a difference between the price at the charging point and the one in the app?
Q8 reveals the ‘charging price mystery’
The charging price is a particularly complex cocktail of different elements and factors. You're not just paying for your electricity, but also for (the use of) the infrastructure, the service, and any roaming costs. Due to a complex market structure, prices can suddenly rise, and it could even happen that the price in the app differs from the one at the charging point.
We understand that this can cause confusion for our customers. We don't always have the causes under control, but we can ensure transparency. That's why we'd like to unravel the 'mystery' step by step, from charging point to app!
Who determines the charging price?
Broadly speaking, two players are involved in the charging price. The Charge Point Operator (CPO) is the owner or manager of the charging point (e.g., Q8 in the case of Q8 electric chargers at our charging plazas and stations) and provides the hardware, the power connection, and maintenance. Compare it to the pizzeria that bakes your pizza. The Mobility Service Provider (MSP) is the issuer of the charging card that allows you to charge anywhere (e.g., Q8 electric). To stick with the pizza analogy: Takeaway.com or UberEats that delivers and processes the payment for your pizza.
Q8 has its own network of charging points but is also a provider of the charging card that allows you to charge at charging points from other CPOs all over Europe. So, if you come to charge at Q8 with your Q8 electric charging card, we are both the CPO and the MSP. Charging elsewhere with our card? Then we are only the MSP
What is included in the price?
The price of a charging session is more of a 'hamburger' than a pizza, consisting of four layers:
Layer 1 is the energy cost or the price of electricity (often the smallest part of the amount).
Layer 2 is the fee for the infrastructure (CPO cost) and includes the rent for the land, the hardware (chargers), the grid connection, and cleaning and maintenance.
Layer 3 includes additional costs, such as idle fees. On our own Q8 (fast) charging network, we don't charge idle fees; at charging points from partners, this might be the case.
Layer 4 is the service cost (MSP costs): the roaming costs that the MSP charges the CPO so that you can charge here, the transaction costs for processing the payment, the platform costs (app, helpdesk, administration), plus a small margin for the service provided.
Why does the price at the charging point differ from the one in the app?
This has everything to do with the different players and the way they compose their charging price (see above). If you pay with your bank card (e.g., at a fast charger or at some AC chargers), you only pay Layer 1 and Layer 2, but you pay no service costs. However, keep in mind that a bank card is not accepted at every charging point. If you pay with your charging card, you pay the price you've agreed upon with the charging card provider and have the certainty of being able to charge on an extensive European network. At Q8, the price for private users is:
€0 for your Q8 electric charging card
A transaction cost of €0.35
After 20 transactions per month, €0 transaction costs (so max. €7 per month)
For professional users, we charge €2.48 (excl. VAT) per charging card, but they pay no transaction costs.
Why choose Q8?
Q8 is both a CPO and an MSP and therefore has both charging points and charging cards, and the network keeps growing. By not charging transaction fees on our own network, we make charging as accessible as possible for customers with a Q8 electric charging card. Moreover, your charging card is your access ticket to more than 890,000 charging points in Europe. And whether you charge at Q8 or another provider: you can earn Smiles everywhere! In the Q8 app, you can exchange your Smiles for attractive discounts, and you'll always find all charging prices, giving you complete transparency over the price before you start charging.
Finally, a few smart tips …
Check the Q8 app beforehand: this is the price you as a private individual will pay! If there's a difference with the charging point, you now know that our app shows the total price, which includes all pricing layers. Have a company card? Check the prices in the Q8 electric business app.
Pull the winning card: use your Q8 electric charging card at a Q8 charging point. This way, you always pay the most advantageous price.
conclusion?
The market for electric charging is in full development. But at Q8, we are already working on transparent prices (via the app), a broad network with more than 890,000 charging stations in Belgium and Europe, and maximum comfort so that you, as a customer, can travel without worries. Professional customer? Find more information about our business solutions here!
Want to benefit from transparent prices and our extensive network as well?
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