EV owners reap savings as Middle East tensions push fuel prices higher
June 27, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
As fuel prices climb amid Iran-Israel tensions, EV drivers benefit from lower ultra-rapid charging costs 鈥 a quiet win for electric car owners.
While petrol prices are creeping back up due to tensions between Iran and Israel, you鈥檙e in luck if you drive electric: ultra-rapid charging just got a bit cheaper.
The cost of the fastest public EV charging has dropped by 2p per kWh, both during peak and off-peak hours, according to the latest AA EV Recharge Report. That might not sound like a lot, but it鈥檚 a welcome bit of relief for drivers planning electric road trips this summer.
Meanwhile, petrol prices have been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately. They dropped to a four-year low of about 132p per litre in May, but started creeping back up in June 鈥 going up around 2p just last week. With tensions in the Middle East adding extra uncertainty, it usually means pump prices will keep rising.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on 莲花直播. And you can also sell your car, too. We鈥檙e here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
EV costs steady, with more relief on the horizon
It鈥檚 not just ultra-rapid charging that鈥檚 getting cheaper. In May, prices for slow, fast, and rapid charging mostly stayed steady or dropped a bit. And there鈥檚 more good news on the way: the again on 1 July, which could make charging at home even cheaper. Perfect timing for your summer road trips.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, said EV drivers are shielded from the usual chaos of oil markets. 鈥淭he price of electricity should be cheaper, yet electric car owners benefit greatly from a commodity that offers better stability and uniformity,鈥 he said.
Here are the Peak and Off-Peak rates, according to the AA EV Recharge Report, May 2025:
| Charge Type | Speed | May Ave (p/kWh) | Apr Ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to add 80% charge | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow Off-Peak | Up to 8kW | 43 | 43 | 0 | 拢17.20 | 9.72 |
| Slow Peak | Up to 8kW | 58 | 58 | 0 | 拢23.20 | 13.11 |
| Fast Off-Peak | 8鈥49办奥 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 拢21.60 | 12.20 |
| Fast Peak | 8鈥49办奥 | 87 | 85 | 2 | 拢34.80 | 19.66 |
| Rapid Off-Peak | 50鈥149办奥 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 拢21.60 | 12.20 |
| Rapid Peak | 50鈥149办奥 | 87 | 85 | 2 | 拢34.80 | 19.66 |
| Ultra-rapid Off-Peak | +150kW | 45 | 47 | -2 | 拢18.00 | 10.17 |
| Ultra-rapid Peak | +150kW | 63 | 65 | -2 | 拢25.20 | 14.24 |
| PETROL | 鈥 | 132.30 ppl | 134.60 ppl | -2.30 ppl | 拢42.34 | 11.57 |
Still waiting for help to buy
Even with the good news about cheaper charging, there鈥檚 still a big hurdle: buying a new EV can be pricey. Right now, most sales are coming from fleets and company car schemes 鈥 not everyday drivers. A lot of people are still put off by the higher upfront cost compared to petrol or diesel cars.
That鈥檚 why The AA is asking the government to pitch in with some help, such as 0% loans or cutting VAT on electric cars, to make them more affordable for regular folks.
鈥淲ith fuel prices possibly rising in the short term, now鈥檚 the time to support those looking to switch to electric,鈥 said Cousens. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased the (SMMT) backs our calls, and we urge the government to act quickly to keep the EV momentum going.鈥
These fresh calls for government support line up with 莲花直播鈥檚 鈥樷. We鈥檙e pushing for VAT on EV charging to be cut to 5%, new green perks for people buying new or used electric cars, and grants to help cover the cost of installing a home charger.
So, if you鈥檙e already driving electric, you鈥檙e in a good spot right now. And if you鈥檙e thinking about making the switch, it might be time to start looking, especially if the government finally steps up with some buying incentives.
Car change? 莲花直播!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With 莲花直播 you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price 鈥 as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you鈥檙e looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, 莲花直播 is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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