Oman’s new public EV charging fees take effect on 1 October, and some residents fear they could slow the country’s switch to electric cars. A Muscat Daily reader poll reveals a clear pattern. People will accept paying, provided prices stay reasonable and chargers become easier to find.
What’s changing for Oman’s EV drivers?
Public charging in Oman moves to a paid model from 1 October. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has set rates of 50 to 120 baisa per kWh, depending on charger capacity.
The timing is important. The sultanate wants more electric cars on its roads. Consequently, any extra running cost arrives at a sensitive moment for a young market.
To test the mood, Muscat Daily asked readers a simple question. Would the fee encourage or discourage people from switching to electric vehicles? The answers were mixed, although several themes kept returning.
Why are some drivers worried?
Cost sits at the heart of the concern. Student Ameera Al Amzaib pointed out that saving money is a core reason to buy electric. “If charging becomes expensive, people may prefer regular cars,” she said.
Mechanical engineer Yarub Al Ghazali made a similar point. He warned the fee could put people off, “especially if charging becomes expensive compared to fuel”. Even so, he added that an affordable fee funding reliable chargers could support wider adoption.
Others focused on who’d feel it most. Binoy Koshy, a senior QHSE and internal audit manager, expects a slight early dip, “especially those who depend on public charging”. Likewise, public sector employee Dr Santhanakrishnan Sarangapani singled out buyers “dependent on public fast charging”.
That group is important. After all, drivers without access to a home charger have fewer ways to avoid public prices.
Is the real problem a shortage of chargers?
For several respondents, availability worries them as much as price. Journalist Fatma Al Badi cited “limited charging stations” alongside the cost of public charging. Teacher trainee Lujaina Sulaiman Al Diffai went further. “The issue is the limited number of charging stations,” she said.
In her view, the fee becomes acceptable if the government delivers “numerous, easily accessible charging stations”. Similarly, PRO Sami Al Hasni said the outcome “will depend on the cost and availability of charging stations across Oman”. He also suggested a fee may help regulate how stations are used.
That’s a point often missed in debates about paid charging. Free chargers can attract long stays, which leaves fewer bays for drivers who really need them. As a result, a modest price could keep stations moving.
Could the fee end up helping EV adoption?
Many readers saw a possible upside. If the revenue funds a bigger network, they argued, drivers could gain in the long run. For example, student Khalid Waleed Al Rawahi said the fee “could support EV adoption in the long term” if it improves infrastructure.
In the same vein, student Ruqaya Issa Al Kindi called for “a reasonable and transparent fee”. She believes affordable prices plus reliable stations would draw more buyers towards EVs.
Dr Sarangapani took a similar view. “I would not say the new fee will discourage people from EVs by itself,” he said. Instead, he thinks a “much denser and more reliable charging network” could ultimately encourage adoption.
Koshy also sees a path forward. In his view, fair pricing and wide coverage could create “a reliable, sustainable charging network across Oman”.
Will EVs still be cheaper to run than petrol cars?
One reader was confident the fee won’t make any difference. Mechanical engineer Mohammed Al Zadjali argued that “petrol is still more expensive than charging electric cars”. He added that EVs cost less to maintain, a claim he said showroom owners can confirm.
He also believes even higher-wattage charging is still cheaper than petrol. However, that’s his personal view, and the report doesn’t include a cost comparison.
Al Badi also highlighted the lower cost of home charging and maintenance compared with conventional cars. Therefore, owners who plug in at home may barely notice the change. Meanwhile, those who rely on public chargers will feel it first.
What should drivers watch for in October?
Two things will shape the verdict. First, there’s what a typical charge will cost drivers under the new tariffs. Second, there’s the question of whether new stations appear fast enough to justify paying.
Until those details are clear, buyers are weighing a fee they haven’t yet seen on a bill. That uncertainty alone could make some shoppers pause before choosing an electric car.
Still, the message from readers is consistent. Keep charging affordable, keep it transparent and build more chargers. If that happens, most respondents think Oman’s EV push can stay on track.
