Ultra-fast charging cheaper than home: myth or reality?

French network Electra is launching an aggressive commercial push, offering from May 18 an unprecedented floor price of €0.19/kWh during off-peak hours on its most frequently used stations — the lowest price in the market for ultra-fast charging.

The compelling argument: cheaper than EDF

With this rate, Electra positions itself just below EDF's regulated Blue Tariff for the basic option (approximately €0.195/kWh). A minimal gain of €0.005/kWh, but enough to attract millions of drivers without a home charging station.

However, the reality is more complex. Home charging station owners typically use EDF's off-peak hours option (€0.158/kWh) or Tempo contracts (below €0.13/kWh at night). Home charging remains significantly more advantageous.

Add the mandatory Smart subscription at €4.99 per month: you'd need to charge 1,000 kWh monthly to offset this additional cost. That's roughly 6,000 km/month for a car consuming 20 kWh/100 km — uncommon usage.

Very strict access conditions

To benefit from the floor price, you must accept a strict yield management system, similar to train ticketing. The €0.19/kWh rate is only available :

• During the network's off-peak hours (typically night or mid-morning)
• On the most frequently used stations only

Electra has provided no clarity on identifying these stations or their rotation. The goal is to financially incentivize users to shift consumption, flatten demand peaks, and monetize infrastructure during low-traffic periods.

One reassuring feature: locked-in session rate

Electra does introduce a welcome element: pricing is transparent, displayed in the app before connection and locked in for the entire charging session, even if it extends into a more expensive peak period.

The price battle intensifies

In the urban and highway ultra-fast charging segment, Electra now holds the lowest entry price, outpacing Tesla (Superchargers) and Ionity. Competitors like IECharge, Lidl, and E.Leclerc already offer €0.25–€0.29/kWh with no subscription.

By shifting competition toward behavioral price optimization, Electra forces rivals to rethink their models, as Tesla recently raised its charging fees.

Bottom line: the Electra offer is real, but it targets urban drivers without home charging who primarily charge at night. For others, home charging or simple linear pricing remains more attractive.

Source: caradisiac