The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy has recently approved an increase in the price of charging electric vehicles (EV) for the first time since 2022.
The new tariff sets the price for slow AC charging at LE3.4 per kilowatt-hour (kw/h), an increase of around 79 per cent. Fast DC charging has been hiked to LE6.55 per kw/h, marking an increase of around 75 per cent increase.
Household charging, however, remains unaffected, as billing continues according to regular residential electricity brackets. These rates will change when domestic electricity tariffs are raised.
Ahmed Nawwar, a senior operations manager at Sha7en an EV charging network, said the decision to raise the charging prices was necessary to offset heavy losses incurred by the charging companies under the previous tariff, which did not cover the real cost of investment and operations.
The price increase, he noted, is meant to ensure the sustainability of existing networks, encourage the expansion of new charging stations, and maintain service quality for users.
The price increase is good news for charging companies, helping them to recover part of their losses and providing an economic return that supports further investment and wider geographical coverage, he added.
However, the decision is bad news for consumers. “This places greater responsibility on the charging companies and auto dealers to explain that EVs are not just about saving on fuel costs but also offer longer vehicle lifespans and protect the environment and public health,” Nawwar said.
With the latest increase, EV charging prices in Egypt are now close to the global average, and in some cases lower. Charging now ranges between $0.11 and $0.21 per kw/h, compared to $0.22 to $0.55 in Europe depending on the country and between $0.17 and $0.50 or more in the US, he said.
Fast-charging prices in Egypt remain below the European and US averages.
Nawwar said that EV charging patterns in Egypt are divided roughly into 70 per cent home charging, which remains unaffected by the new tariff, 20 per cent slow AC charging, and 10 per cent fast DC charging at public stations.
Hence, the average cost of charging an EV averages LE2.3 per kw/h.
Nawwar pointed out that EVs remain more economical than cars running on petrol for everyday use, particularly when home charging is the primary source.
A petrol-powered car consuming 95-octane fuel at LE19 per litre and averaging eight litres per 100 km costs LE152 to travel that distance. In comparison, an EV consuming 18 kw/h per 100 km would cost LE41 for the same distance. This translates into an estimated 70 per cent saving in operating costs, Nawwar noted.
Walid Soliman, CEO and co-founder of Sparkd-EV, a vehicle importer, stated that comparisons between EVs and petrol-fuelled cars are still far from equal. Taking the example of 95-octane petrol versus fast DC charging, the cost of electricity remains roughly three times lower, he said, adding that EVs are also cheaper in maintenance and spare parts.
Soliman believes that the rise in charging prices will have a limited impact on EV sales, since when fuel prices rise again, demand for EVs is expected to return to normal.
The increase, he said, will not affect EV imports, and he advised the government to refrain from further increases in prices while launching more incentives to encourage EV ownership.
Expanding the share of EVs in the Egyptian market, he said, is essential to attract investors in manufacturing EVs locally.
Menna Kotb, an EV owner, said the decision to raise the price at charging stations will not deter consumers from buying EVs, since public chargers account for no more than 10 per cent of her charging needs, which are largely limited to emergencies.
Despite the increase, charging costs remain far below those of fuel, she said, adding that she currently charges her vehicle for LE200, and even if that amount doubled to LE400, it would still be cheaper than the LE1000 or more required for fuel.
The price increase in EV charging costs would be a positive move if it means the establishment of more charging stations nationwide, she said.
“The main challenge facing EV owners is not cost but the lack of sufficient charging points, particularly in some governorates.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 11 September, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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