The average price at public electric car charging stations is €0.48 per kilowatt hour but the regional differences are huge, according to research by motoring organisation ANWB.

The ANWB analysed more than 5.9 million charging sessions last year at public charging stations and found charging is cheapest in Nederweert in Limburg. There electric car drivers pay an average of €0.33 per kWh, less than half what they will pay in  Oegstgeest in Zuid Holland.

Local authorities are responsible for installing public charging stations, usually by awarding a concession to a commercial operator. While councils set conditions for these contracts, such as a maximum price per kWh, the resulting tariffs differ sharply.

In provinces such as Noord-Brabant and Limburg, many councils work together in regional concession areas. Average prices there are relatively low. In councils that have not joined such schemes, costs are often much higher.

Between Nederweert and nearby Asten, for example, the difference is €900 a year.

In Zuid-Holland in areas where councils cooperate, electric car drivers will pay from €0.40 to €0.45 per kWh. But in Zuid-Holland local authority areas that do not take part, including Leiden and Leiderdorp, drivers face the highest tariffs in the country – close to €0.70.

The ANWB said local authorities have considerable influence over the cost of electric motoring for residents, particularly for people without a private charging point who rely on the public infrastructure.

Lower and more uniform tariffs will make the switch to electric driving more attractive and profitable, the organisation said.