Why are charging prices changing across Europe?

Prices changes often raise understandable questions. Why are charging prices increasing? What do the developments in the Middle East have to do with charging an electric vehicle in Europe? And why are some locations affected more than others?

Unlike many other consumer products and services, the factors that determine charging prices are not always immediately visible. Electricity markets are highly interconnected, and the cost of operating a charging network goes far beyond the electricity itself. While rising energy procurement costs play an important role, they are only one part of the story.

To understand why charging prices can change over time, it helps to look at how electricity markets work and how charging networks such as IONITY operate.

What do the recent developments in the Middle East have to do with EV charging prices?

Electric vehicles run on electricity, not oil or gas. Yet developments in global energy markets can still affect charging costs across Europe.

The reason is that electricity and gas markets are closely linked. In many European countries, the market price for electricity is determined by the most expensive source needed to meet demand. In practice, this is often gas-fired power generation.

Europe imports a significant share of its natural gas as LNG (liquefied natural gas), which is transported by ship. Over recent months, a significant share of global LNG supply from the Gulf region has been disrupted or blocked.

This has increased the cost of gas-fired power generation across Europe and pushed wholesale electricity prices up by as much as 25%. At the same time, European gas storage levels remain relatively low, while competition for available LNG supplies continues to put pressure on energy markets.

Even if the situation were to ease, supply disruptions and infrastructure repairs could take months or years to resolve, keeping markets tight and prices elevated.

But doesn't IONITY source 100% renewable electricity? And isn't there more of it available in summer?

Yes. For every kilowatt-hour consumed on our network, an equivalent amount of renewable electricity is fed into the grid.

However, Europe's electricity system remains interconnected. Electricity prices are therefore still influenced by wider market dynamics, including gas prices.

Following the reduction of Russian gas supplies, Europe has become more reliant on imported LNG, which is traded globally and remains in demand throughout the year. As a result, European gas prices are increasingly shaped by developments in global energy markets rather than by regional seasonal demand alone.

Why are the effects only being felt now?

Electricity for large-scale operations such as charging networks like IONITY is typically purchased in advance on wholesale energy markets rather than in real time.

To reduce risk, electricity is usually purchased gradually over a longer period rather than all at once. This means that sudden market movements do not immediately affect procurement costs.

However, following recent developments in European energy markets, wholesale electricity prices have settled at a higher level than before. As new volumes are being purchased, higher procurement costs increasingly work their way into the market.

How does IONITY respond to changing costs?

Rising energy procurement costs are only one part of the picture. Charging network operators must also account for infrastructure, maintenance, grid connection and operating costs, all of which can vary significantly between locations.

If you would like to learn more about the different factors that influence charging prices, read how we set pricing for ultra-fast charging.

We regularly review pricing and adjust it where necessary to reflect changing market conditions and operating costs. This helps us maintain a high-quality charging experience for customers across Europe while continuing to expand and improve the network.

To keep pricing as stable and predictable as possible for customers, we use a combination of different pricing measures. These include location-based pricing as well as moderate price adjustments in selected markets.

As a pan-European charging network, we operate across many different markets while maintaining a single, interconnected charging experience for customers travelling across borders. Energy prices and operating costs can develop very differently from one country to another.

However, because we plan, operate and expand our network on a European scale, we also take a pan-European approach to pricing. Rather than introducing large price differences between countries, we seek to balance these cost developments through smaller and more targeted adjustments across the network to provide our customers with a more consistent charging experience when travelling across Europe.

How does IONITY keep pricing transparent?

Transparency is an important part of our pricing approach.

Our customers can always view the applicable charging price before starting a charging session in the IONITY App. For drivers charging without the IONITY App, the applicable ad-hoc charging price is displayed on the charger.

We also continue to improve how pricing information is presented across our digital channels to make it easier to compare charging options, subscriptions and charging locations.

Our goal is simple: customers should always understand which price applies and which option best suits their charging needs.

What will the new charging prices be?

Customers who charge using a direct payment method like our web app or a credit card, the IONITY App without an active subscription, and those who signed up for a monthly subscription after 12 February 2026, will pay the new charging prices listed below from 1 July 2026.