Short answer: A monthly fee that gives you access to lower per-kWh charging rates at a specific network, similar to a loyalty discount.
Explanation
Some charging networks offer a monthly subscription that reduces your per-kWh rate. You pay a fixed monthly fee (typically 5 to 15 EUR) and in return get a lower price per kWh on every session. If you charge frequently on that network, the savings outweigh the subscription cost.
For example, a network might charge 0.59 EUR/kWh for pay-as-you-go users and 0.35 EUR/kWh for subscribers paying 12.99 EUR/month. If you charge 100 kWh per month on that network, the subscriber pays 35 EUR + 12.99 EUR = 47.99 EUR versus 59 EUR for pay-as-you-go. The break-even point is typically around 50-60 kWh per month.
Before subscribing, calculate whether the savings justify the monthly fee based on your actual usage. If you only use a specific network occasionally, the subscription may cost more than it saves. Many networks let you cancel anytime, so you can try a month and see.
Where you'll see this
- In charging network apps
Common confusion
A charging subscription is not the same as unlimited charging. You still pay per kWh, just at a reduced rate. The subscription fee is on top of your charging costs, not instead of them.
Example
Ionity Passport costs 12.99 EUR/month and gives you a rate of 0.35 EUR/kWh instead of the standard 0.59 EUR/kWh. If you charge 80 kWh per month at Ionity, the subscription saves you about 6 EUR.
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