Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Dorset are facing steep charges at council-owned charging points, with fees reportedly up to ten times greater than typical home charging costs. Concerns have been raised by local councillors who criticize Dorset Council for profiting from these high fees while potentially limiting public access to affordable EV charging.
The council’s partnership with commercial operator Mer, established in 2021 under a 15-year agreement, has resulted in Dorset Council receiving around £36,000 in revenue. However, Conservative opposition leader Cllr Andrew Parry described the charging costs as exorbitant, revealing he paid over £30 for a 100-mile EV charge—more expensive than fueled travel by petrol or diesel. He questioned whether the council’s pricing represents a fair premium or amounts to motorists being overcharged.
Councillors also highlighted the underutilization of EV charging points, with a recent survey showing only two out of a dozen chargers in Dorset Council car parks were in use during a weekday midday check. Parry pointed out that three parking spaces are often needed to support just two EV charge points, potentially reducing standard parking revenue and raising questions about whether such infrastructure should be council-led or left to private sector investment.
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There are broader concerns about the accessibility and affordability of EV ownership in Dorset. Many residents, particularly in rural and historically protected areas—such as Conservation Areas and those with Listed Buildings—face significant obstacles when installing home chargers. Cllr Sherry Jespersen emphasized that most Dorset residents on average incomes are unlikely to afford EVs, and local planning restrictions further complicate the establishment of charging infrastructure. She warned that the ambitious goal of mass EV adoption by 2030 might be unattainable without greater focus on enabling home charging.
Further skepticism came from former highways portfolio holder Cllr Ray Bryan, who doubted public support for dedicating car park spaces to EV charging and predicted that the council’s charging stations would be obsolete at the end of the current contract. He personally intends to continue driving a diesel vehicle.
The council acknowledges challenges slowing the rollout of EV chargers, including planning hurdles, legal constraints, National Grid limitations, and uneven community support. While some local councils welcome new charging points, others have declined the opportunity. Dorset Council plans to introduce more on-street charging points in coming months, aiming to improve accessibility.
Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary criticized existing EV growth targets as unrealistic, labeling EV adoption “a middle class obsession.” He expressed concerns that expanding EV charging infrastructure might monopolize valuable car park spaces, making it difficult for non-EV drivers and those without home chargers to access facilities.
Conversely, Cllr Simon Gibson stressed the importance of expanding EV charging, particularly in tourist areas, warning that inadequate infrastructure could negatively impact Dorset’s local economy.
Currently, the cost to charge at home overnight averages around 7p per kWh, translating to approximately 2.5p per mile. Public fast chargers typically charge about 51p per kWh, while Dorset Council’s car park chargers demand an even higher rate of 76p per kWh—well above the 43p threshold required to make electric vehicle use cheaper than petrol or diesel.
This disparity in charging costs, combined with infrastructural and socioeconomic barriers, raises important questions about the future direction of electric vehicle support in Dorset and the fairness of pricing policies affecting everyday motorists.