OWNER ANSWER
Why the same EV charger can cost more in a different app
Compare contactless, network apps and roaming cards before charging your BYD: unit prices, membership costs and parking conditions can change the real total.
The charger supplies the electricity, but the service you choose to pay through can affect its price. Contactless payment, the operator’s own app and a roaming card are not automatically the same deal. Electroverse explicitly says its prices can differ from charging directly with an operator and asks drivers to check the rate for the specific point before starting. Compare the route you will actually use, not just a sticker or a price seen on a previous visit.
- Match the site and exact charger/connector in each app. Compare the same session location, not two nearby stations with different operators or power tiers. Verify that the payment card or app is accepted there.
- Check the displayed p/kWh for contactless/direct payment and the current price in your roaming service. Government guidance requires clear charging-price information before a session; it also recognises that roaming and direct prices can differ. Keep a screenshot of the route you select.
- Include any connection/transaction charges, minimum spend or paid membership that applies to that route. Do not assume another provider follows Electroverse’s stated no-subscription/no-transaction-fee model. Check current terms instead of an old comparison chart.
- Use an illustrative calculation: 30 kWh at 75p/kWh costs £22.50; at 65p/kWh it costs £19.50. That is £3 difference for that session. These are example prices, not offers currently available from a named provider.
- For a paid-plan example, a £6 monthly fee with a 10p/kWh reduction needs 60 kWh of qualifying charging just to recover the fee: £6 ÷ £0.10 = 60. Check which chargers qualify and how much you will really use; do not buy a membership on the headline discount alone.
- Read the car-park signs separately. Paying for electricity does not automatically settle parking or remove time limits, registration requirements or overstay conditions. Osprey’s terms specifically require drivers to follow site parking rules. Set your return time to meet both the charging plan and the parking conditions.
- Start with the chosen payment method, confirm charging, and keep its receipt. If the price is disputed later, the record should identify who billed you and what was displayed, rather than only the logo on the charger.
Is a roaming card always cheaper?
No. It may be cheaper, the same or more expensive at a particular point. Convenience and network access are separate benefits from price. Compare current point-specific rates.
Will a cheaper sticker price override the app price?
Do not rely on that. Electroverse says the rate in its app is the rate charged through its service and notes that some hardware stickers can be out of date. Check before starting and ask the provider if information conflicts.
Does my cheap overnight home tariff apply here?
Not automatically. A home-energy tariff and public-charging payment service are different products. Any linked discount must be explicitly offered and applicable to the charging account and site.
Does MyBYD sell charging plans?
No. MyBYD does not sell these services or act as the charging provider. This is independent guidance, not a supplier endorsement. Always confirm prices, eligibility and terms on the provider’s own website or app.
Octopus Electroverse — billing and point-specific roaming prices; checked 14 October 2026
Open sourceUK Government — public charge-point pricing guidance; checked 14 October 2026
Open sourceOsprey Charging — site responsibilities and parking conditions; checked 14 October 2026
Open source