The alerts of several associations on the “opaque and very variable” prices of electric car charging stations – prices can vary up to 500% on the same terminal – have resonated with many readers of “20 Minutes”.
The first point of friction concerns the lack of transparency when plugging in your vehicle. Alain deplores that “the prices are not displayed unlike the prices of gasoline”. Unlike traditional gas stations where prices per liter are displayed on large illuminated panels, electric charging has its rules, which are considered unclear. Maud is annoyed at “never paying the same price, especially on the highway for the same recharge, and the prices are not displayed like for fuel”.
Juggle between apps and badges
There is no bank terminal at the terminal. You therefore have to juggle with applications or recharge cards. For Cécile, “it’s a mess!” Between the cards and badges that you never know if they will pass or not, and the totally random prices, it must be very complicated for tight budgets! ". While recharging his vehicle in Paris, Yann had a bad experience: “I used the wrong card and instead of paying 4-5 euros with my Belib card, I ended up with a bill for 48 euros on my other card…”
Beyond the cards, it is the very variable prices that are confusing… and disgusting. Some operators charge by kilowatt hour (kWh), others by minute, many combine the two. Connection fees or occupancy taxes may be added. “There are often per-minute rates even though charging power is not guaranteed. Per-minute rates should only apply after a certain period of time,” says Phil. “The fact that there are prices per kWh, others per minute and others a mix of the two makes the comparison very complicated,” adds Olivier.
Management by local authorities rather than the private sector is not necessarily more economical, regret several witnesses. In Saint-Cyr-l'École, in Yvelines, Barbara deplores: "Since March 2026, the town has changed operator, and prices have increased significantly, with time-based pricing per minute and per kWh." In Crest-Voland (Savoie), Jean-Luc is surprised to see that “rates range from €0.17/kWh to €0.77/kWh in the same municipality”. Virginie confirms that “for the same recharge, there can be more than 10 euros difference”.
Looking for the cheapest terminal
To avoid seeing their bill exceed that of a full tank of gasoline, users have their own techniques. Frédéric and Michel rely on ecosystems that are closed but considered reliable, such as Telsa. Other drivers turn to supermarket parking lots which slash prices to attract customers. “From now on, I recharge at the network terminals of the Leclerc or Lidl centers, with a rate between 0.26 and 0.30 €/kWh,” says Bertrand.
Comparison apps are also popular. “I use Chargeprice,” says Laurent. This allows you to know, based on the cards, the charging costs based on kWh, but also charging times. », he writes. Aldéric, owner of a second-hand Zoé, has also become accustomed to this gymnastics: “We are starting to organize our routes “the old-fashioned way” by imposing an inexpensive terminal on the route. Finding prices that vary from single to fivefold (!) on the road is often annoying. » For the majority of witnesses, the simplest solution remains recharging at home. “I invested in solar in order to minimize outside costs, the sun is at a much lower price,” assures Fabien.
A brake for electric becoming the norm
For Dominique, “this overly technical knowledge is an obstacle to the use of electric vehicles by the greatest number of people”. Some end up giving up, like Jean who uses a company hybrid vehicle: “In one year, I was able to recharge 10 times around my professional meeting place. The other two years of the contract, I NEVER recharged. Too painful. »
