Major electric vehicle (EV) charging network Be.EV has warned that upcoming extra charges could put drivers off going electric, just as the UK's transition toward electric cars is starting to gather pace.
From April 2028, a new pay-per-mile tax will be introduced: 3p per mile for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids. These rates will increase with inflation from 2029 onwards. This follows another cost increase for EV drivers in April 2025, when EVs became liable for vehicle excise duty, widely known as road tax.
Be.EV warns of cumulative policy costs
A spokesperson for the group warned that the "cumulative cost of policies" could put people off switching from petrol and diesel cars over to EVs. The team at Be.EV said: "We recognise that as more people switch to electric vehicles, the Government needs to think about how it replaces the revenue currently generated through fuel duty. That's a reasonable conversation to have."
"But we also need to be careful about the timing and the cumulative impact on drivers. We're approaching a really important point in the EV transition."
The group explained why now is a risky time to impose these extra costs. It said: "The next wave of customers aren't necessarily enthusiasts who are prepared to make the switch at any cost. They're ordinary motorists making practical decisions about what car to buy, how much it costs to run and whether it fits their lifestyle. Price is going to play a huge part in that decision."
New monthly charging pass launched
To help drivers handle rising costs, Be.EV has launched the UK's first monthly EV charging pass. Similar to subscriptions already common in Europe, it gives drivers a set monthly allowance, so they don't need to track peak and off-peak rate changes.
Two passes are currently available: the Go Pass at £49 a month with a 120kWh allowance, enough for around 400 miles, and the Go Further Pass at £89 a month with a 250kWh allowance, sufficient for roughly 800 miles.
Grid connection costs challenge expansion
Building new charging stations brings major hurdles, especially connecting them to the power grid. Be.EV explained: "We've encountered locations where sufficient grid capacity exists, but the connection point is a considerable distance from the site."
"Bringing that power to the chargers can require extensive civil engineering works, adding significant cost and complexity. In a couple of cases, those costs have been enough to make otherwise promising sites commercially unviable."
Setting up stations in less busy or rural areas is particularly difficult due to high upfront installation costs and fewer active drivers. The group said: "Some sites, such as busy motorway service stations or major retail destinations, are naturally attractive to operators. There's strong demand, high footfall and a clear commercial case for investment."
"Other locations are much harder to make work. They might be further from a suitable grid connection, making installation significantly more expensive, or in areas where there simply aren't enough EV drivers yet to generate a commercial return. That's particularly challenging in rural and remote communities, but it can happen in towns and cities too."
