Electric car owners may be "overcharged" when topping up their vehicles, with a leading inspection company noticing major issues. New analysis from experts has found that almost one-third of electric car charges were showing incorrect readings.

Stations were either underestimating or, more importantly, overestimating how much energy had actually been sent into vehicles when charging. It means stations may charge customers for a lot more electricity than was actually delivered to their vehicles in a major blow for the UK's 1.75million electric car owners.

According to data from EVCI, 31.5% were providing readings 2% above or below the energy delivered to models. The problem doesn't end there, with as many as 15% of EV chargers more than 5% outside their true reading.

EVCI stressed that a charger had already delivered a whopping 37% less electricity than the station had claimed. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel fuel stations are tightly controlled by strict fuel dispenser regulations that state pumps must always be accurate.

Fuel stations are routinely tested, with much stricter tolerances of between 0.5% to 1% at all times. ECVI stressed that EV chargers are subject to much less strict requirements, which creates "a two-tier system of consumer protection".

They warned that EV drivers are therefore currently exposed to "significantly higher financial risk than drivers of combustion engine vehicles".

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Craig explained: "People with EVs need to know that they're getting what they're paying for, the same way that they do at petrol pumps." However, the Department for Transport stressed there are rules in place to ensure charging stations are always accurate.

A DfT spokesperson told Express.co.uk that they will continue to keep this issue under review with The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

They added: "Public EV charge points are expected to accurately measure and provide the electricity they state they deliver. Meters used at most public charge points are covered by regulations requiring accuracy to within 2%, which we expect all providers to adhere to."

Electric car owners without access to off-street driveway parking are already slapped with higher costs due to different VAT rates. Motorists charging up at home pay 5% VAT on their electricity charges, compared to 20% for those topping-up at public bays. Campaigners have pushed hard for changes to the so-called 'pavement tax', with fees set by HMRC.