Despite constantly increasing sales, the electric car market has been facing many difficulties for several months, between the shortage of electronic components and the high cost of raw materials. From now on, the players in the industry must come to terms with the explosion in energy prices… An additional problem which threatens the sustainability of the sector according to these specialists.
We told you about it in our columns a few weeks ago. The price of electricity will increase drastically in 2023, in particular due to the increase in gas prices. Indeed, the price of these resources are linked, and inevitably, the halt in gas deliveries by Russia in many European countries has an impact directly the price of electricity on the wholesale markets.
In France, the price per megawatt hour has risen to €1,000, against only €85 in 2021 at the same period. However, as reported by our colleagues from Guardian, Soaring Energy Costs Threaten Electric Car Market Growth. In any case, this is what several industry executives in Germany claim.
In fact, to the increase in energy costs, we must add other problems that have been present for several months now, such as the price and availability of raw materials, the constant shortage of electronic components, not to mention the consequences of the inflation on household purchasing power. So many factors that can harm the health of the electric car market.
Across the Rhine as in France, it is interesting to own an electric car rather than a thermal vehicle, especially with the recent surge in the price of gasoline. However, this trend tends to be reversed with the rise in electricity prices. In Germany, the average cost of charging an electric car, whether at home or via terminals, has increased by 10%.
Also read: Electric cars – drivers denounce the dismal state of charging stations
The explosion in the price of electricity threatens the market for electric cars
For example, Allego, one of the main operators of charging stations in Germany, has increased its prices from 43 to 47 centimes per kilowatt hour. Fast direct current charging has increased to 70 cents per kilowatt hour instead of 65 cents. In addition, some businesses such as supermarkets or furniture and DIY stores that offered free charging to their customers paid for this service.
According to automotive economist Stefan Bratzel, this development poses a direct and immediate threat to the sector :“The explosion in electricity prices could end up posing an acute danger to the transition of vehicles, and we have to be damn careful of it. If electric cars become more expensive to run, the push for e-mobility is likely to collapse, as hardly anyone will buy an electric car,” he warns.
Stefan Bratzel is also asking the German government to ensure that the price of electricity is kept at a lower level than that of gasoline. For him, this is the only way to preserve the attractiveness of this sector. As a reminder, in 2023 the French government will offer the possibility of buying an electric car on lease at €100 per month.
