Recent cold weather has adversely affected the driving ranges of electric vehicles (EVs), prompting a significant increase in the pressures on the charging network, with demands rising by nearly 50%. Owners of electric cars are advised to compare the home electricity market rates with public charging tariff rates, especially in light of unusually high market prices. In some cases, charging an EV at public networks has proven to be less expensive than charging at home under the current market conditions.

For instance, the public charging prices posted by Enefiti reveal a structured tariff dependent on the time of day and the charging power. During the daytime from 08:00 to 21:00, charging rates at public stations registered to Enefiti users for charging up to 100 kW is set at €0.37/kWh, decreasing to €0.33/kWh during nighttime hours. Higher power chargers, exceeding 100 kW, have corresponding rates of €0.50/kWh and €0.46/kWh for day and night, respectively. Given that the electricity market prices have outstripped these public charges during several hours, it is evident that some expenses incurred for public charging exceed home electricity costs, presenting an unexpected opportunity for EV users.

Robert Kutsar, head of the charging infrastructure at Enefiti, has noted that the increase in market prices has correlated with a noticeable rise in charging consumption. The information provided indicates that public chargers are not only becoming cost-effective options for EV owners under certain circumstances but also underscore the evolving dynamics of energy consumption patterns in Estonia as electric vehicle adoption grows amidst fluctuating market conditions.