In case of questions or problems, it is also best to contact our partner Sparki directly at 078 486 660 or hello@sparki.be
Do you have a question or problem with one of MAES/Sparki’s ultra-fast charging stations?
Here you can find all useful information about electric charging
Is electric driving expensive?
For many people, the decisive factor is the cost of electric driving. Many people are happy to make the switch to a car with less polluting local emissions, but of course they do not want dip to deep into their wallets. Whether electric driving is more expensive than driving a car on traditional fuel depends on various factors.
Purchase price
In general, purchasing an electric car is even more expensive than buying a comparable petrol or diesel car. At the moment you will receive extra incentives from the government here, for example, a major advantage of an electric car is that you do not pay tax on the entry into service (BIV) in Flanders and that no annual road tax is due.
Tax options
There are also a series of incentives for companies to take the plunge, for example, electric cars are still 100 percent tax deductible for the employer. But the tax benefit is going to gradually decrease. Cars purchased in 2027 will still enjoy a tax deduction of 95 percent. For cars purchased in subsequent years, the possibility of making a tax contribution will gradually drop to 67.5 percent by 2031.
Maintenance costs
In terms of maintenance costs, you are slightly better off with an electric car. These vehicles do have fewer moving parts and no combustion engine, which means that maintenance costs are lower on average. A point of attention is the aging of the battery and the possible costs of replacement that must take place at any time. These costs are generally very high.
Residual value
What will remain an uncertain factor in the near future is the residual value of electric vehicles. We are talking about relatively new technology in which a lot of development will take place. As a result, electric cars will be able to improve significantly in the future, but this will have a less good effect on the residual value of older vehicles.
Charging cost vs fuel cost – Is electric charging expensive?
This used to be one of the push factors for purchasing an electric car. Before our recent energy crisis, you could easily save € 600 per year with a low consumption of 15,000 kilometers per year compared to petrol or diesel cars.
But since this crisis, this selling point has come under some pressure. To make the comparison, we looked at a comparison for an annual distance of 15,000 km. For electric charging, we have taken as a basis the average commercial price for electricity published by the federal energy watchdog CREG for December 2022 (58.75 cents/kWh). In addition, we have taken the petrol price at that time, which was 1.72 euros per liter. We have based this on a study by newspaper De Tijd
We see that if you drive an electric car, you would pay more than 200 euros extra per year for 15,000 km than with a petrol car. If you cannot charge at home or at work, that can even rise to 80 cents / kWh, so even more expensive.
If you drive 15,000 km with the petrol car, this
would cost you 1,548 euros.
If you drive 15,000 km with the electric car, that
would cost you 1,762 euros.
Complete picture
To view the complete picture, you will therefore have to make your own calculation. You have to look at the initial price, can you benefit from incentives, where can you charge and how many kilometers do you drive, do you have solar panels, … All these things can ensure that electric driving can be cheaper for you personally than driving with a petrol or diesel car. But don’t be alarmed if this the other way around.
It is important to remember that electric driving also offers other benefits, such as lower noise levels, fewer emissions and a smoother driving experience. An argument for not buying an electric car just yet is the charging infrastructure. This will improve in the coming years, but it is not yet easy to charge everywhere on the go, something to definitely take into account! All in all, the decision whether electric driving is too expensive depends on personal circumstances, priorities and financial considerations.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I charge my electric vehicle with a regular socket?
Yes, you can charge your electric vehicle via a regular socket, but charging will be slower than with a special charging station.
What are the different types of charging points?
There are different types of charging points, including charging stations, fast charging stations, wall boxes and sockets.
How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
This depends on the size of the battery and the type of charger you use. In general, charging an electric vehicle can take several hours to several tens of minutes, depending on the charging capacity and size of the battery.
What is the difference between AC and DC charging?
AC charging uses alternating current to charge the batteries of an electric car, while DC charging uses direct current. DC charging is generally faster than AC charging.
How can I see how full the battery of my electric car is?
Most electric cars have a dashboard display that shows the battery charge status. This can be expressed as a percentage or as the number of kilometers that can still be traveled on the remaining charge. Some cars also have a mobile app that allows remote monitoring of battery charge status.
How fast can I charge my electric car?
This depends on the power of the charging point and the capacity of the car’s battery. Fast charging stations can usually fully charge an electric car in 30 to 45 minutes, while normal charging points need several hours.
What is the range of an electric car?
The range of an electric car depends on the capacity of the battery and the consumption of the car. On average, electric cars have a range of 200 to 300 kilometers.
How much power do I need to charge my electric car?
The power required to charge an electric car depends on the capacity of the battery and the charging speed of the charging point. In general, the larger the capacity of the battery and the faster the charging speed, the higher the power required. An average electric car has a battery capacity of about 60 kWh and can be charged from 0 to 100% in about 8 hours with a charging speed of 7.4 kW. For faster charging speeds, for example at a fast charging station, higher power is required.
How do I pay for charging my electric vehicle?
This depends on the charging infrastructure and the payment method that has been set up. For example, you can pay with a charge card (such as the handy MAES Hybrid card), via an app or via a credit card.
Can I charge my electric car at home?
Yes, most electric cars can be charged at home using a charging station or a regular socket.
Where can I charge my electric car?
You can charge your electric car at public charging points, at fast charging stations, at home or at work.
Is electric driving expensive?
This depends on the price of the electricity and the capacity of the charging point.
What types of charging cables are there?
There are different types of charging cables, including Type 1 and Type 2 cables, which allow AC charging, and CCS and CHAdeMO cables, which allow DC charging.
How do I charge my electric vehicle?
You can charge your electric vehicle via a charging station or via a socket at home. The type of charger you need depends on the model of your car and its power needs.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
This depends on the price of the electricity and the capacity of the charging point. In general, charging an electric car is cheaper than refueling with petrol or diesel.
What is the difference between public and private charging points?
Public charging points are owned by a public authority or a commercial operator and are usually located in public places, such as roadside parking lots, parking garages, shopping malls, etc. Private charging points are owned by individuals or companies and are installed on private property, such as a driveway or garage. Public charging points are often accessible to everyone, while private charging points are only accessible to the owner of the charging point and his or her guests.
Is it safe to charge an electric car?
Yes, it is safe to charge an electric car. Electric cars are designed to be safe while charging, and most charging stations have protection mechanisms to prevent overload and short circuits.
Can I charge my electric vehicle while driving?
At the moment it is not possible to charge an electric vehicle while driving, as wireless charging technology is still under development.
What is electric charging?
Electric charging is the process of charging the batteries of an electric car using a charging point. This can be done at home, at work or at public charging points.
When are the charging transactions added to the invoice?
You are used to see all the transactions of the month on one invoice. Unfortunately, the eletric charging transactions are processed with a one month delay. This has to with the current way of working by the charging station operators and is completely out of our hands. You should expect the transactions of the previous month on next months invoice.
Can I just fill up at the pump with the Hybrid Card too?
With your MAES Hybrid Card you do not only enjoy the recharging points, but also all the familiar features of your regular MAES fuel card. So you can always refuel at all filling stations of our excellent network of 1,700 locations in the Benelux.
Where can I charge anywhere with the charging card?
The network of public charge points is growing steadily all over Europe every day. These charging points can already be found in most navigation systems, but here you can get an overview of all the locations in Flanders and here for the rest of Europe. So you can easily see at a glance the excellent network you can enjoy with the MAES Hybrid Card.
Is there a fixed cost attached to the Hybrid Card?
For just 1 euro a month and a small transaction fee of 0.50 euro, you get the entire Move You electric network in addition to the regular fuel card features.
I already have regular MAES fuel cards, how do I best order a Hybrid Card?
It’s best to send an e-mail to the fuel card service and enter how many Hybrid Cards you want.
I have a Tesla, can I also use the MAES Hybrid Card?
Yes, although the network of Tesla charging stations is not (yet) connected to the large European interoperability network we are part of with our Hybrid Card, you can simply charge your Tesla at non-Tesla charging stations with our Hybrid Card without any problems.