What does Subscription Pricing mean?

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.

Learn more from European Alternative Fuels Observatory.

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

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