Electric mobility in Albania was supposed to be a win-win: lower operational costs for drivers, less air pollution in cities, and progress toward greener transport. But starting November 1, 2025, a decision by the Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE) threatens to undermine that promise — with a sudden, steep increase in public charging prices that feels less like careful regulation and more like a burden shifted onto EV users.
Many EV drivers are being hit with an 80% hike (from 14 to 25.3 lek/kWh in peak).
Taxi unions are already protesting. According to reports, the tariff rise could cut their daily earnings by around 20%. Since taxi prices are regulated by municipalities, drivers warn they won’t be able to pass on the higher costs to passengers
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| Public car charging station in Tirana |
What’s Changing — and Why It Feels Like an Ambush
► From November 1, the price for electricity used in EV charging stations with installed power above 11 kW (connected at 0.4 kV) will jump from 14 lek/kWh to 22 lek/kWh during “normal” hours.
► During peak hours (18:00–23:00, depending on season), the rate will rise further to 25.3 lek/kWh.
► According to ERE, these consumers (i.e., EV charging stations) have significantly increased total energy consumption and imposed additional grid-balancing costs due to rapid growth in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
► The timing of the peak rate depends on the season:
• Nov 1 – Mar 31 (winter): 18:00–22:00
• Apr 1 – Oct 31 (summer): 19:00–23:00
Why This Feels Like an Unfair Shock
1. Abrupt Increase
Many EV drivers are being hit with an 80% hike (from 14 to 25.3 lek/kWh in peak).
Such a large increase, effective from next month, gives little time for users to adapt their charging habits or business models (for taxi drivers, for instance).
2. Disproportionate Payment During Peak
The peak-hour surcharge disproportionately hurts drivers who must charge in the evening — taxi drivers, those returning home from work, or users who don’t have access to home charging.
3. Impact on Taxi Drivers & Public Transport
Taxi unions are already protesting. According to reports, the tariff rise could cut their daily earnings by around 20%. Since taxi prices are regulated by municipalities, drivers warn they won’t be able to pass on the higher costs to passengers
4. Green Transition Under Threat
For many Albanians, buying an EV was a way to escape volatile fuel prices and reduce pollution.
A sudden cost shock undermines one of the main financial incentives—and could slow EV adoption just as the country needs it most for climate goals.
5. Regressive Effects
• Those who can charge at home (on cheaper residential rates) are better insulated from the increase.
• Urban dwellers relying on public stations pay the brunt.
• Taxi and ride-hail drivers (who likely drive more, and charge more) face an unfair burden.
Environmental and Policy Implications
Reduced Environmental Benefit
• If EV drivers balk at public charging costs, or if taxi drivers shift back to fossil-fuel vehicles to protect their income, the environmental gains of EV adoption may shrink.
Equity Concern
• The policy may inadvertently favor wealthier or more flexible EV users (home chargers) over others, undermining the social justice dimension of the green transition.
Undermining Confidence in Policy
• For a transition to EVs to succeed, people need predictability—not just in technology, but in cost. Sudden, large increases erode trust in public policy and may discourage prospective EV buyers.
Political and Public Backlash
• Deputy Erald Kapri has called the decision arbitrary and argued that it penalizes citizens who opted for electric vehicles to save money and support the environment.
• Many see a contradiction between the government’s stated ambition to align with European Union goals (including green mobility) and what is happening on the ground.
• Drivers have expressed frustration on social media and are organizing protests.
What Should Have Been Done Instead
• To avoid undermining both fairness and environmental goals, a more responsible approach could have included:
• Gradually phasing in the tariff increase, giving operators and users time to adapt.
Using demand-based incentives (or rebates) to encourage off-peak charging, not just punish peak use.
• Offering lower or subsidized rates for public or shared-use charging stations (especially those used by taxis and ride-hailing vehicles).
• Transparent communication about how the new rates relate to real network costs, rather than a blanket “price hike.”
• Exploring ways to offset the impact on lower-income EV users or those without home charging (e.g., vouchers, differentiated tariffs).
While ERE’s decision is framed as necessary to reflect the true cost of balancing the electricity network, the speed and scale of the price increase feel less like responsible regulation and more like shifting costs onto EV users without warning. For a country trying to promote electric mobility and reduce pollution, this may be a major step backward.
Instead of supporting the green transition, this move risks punishing those who made sustainable choices—and weakening public trust. The cost of “going electric” should not become a surprise tax on those who already invested in a cleaner future.