This is only slightly higher than what Tesla owners are charged, arguably to cover the additional overhead.
Also, it's competitive: The comparative fast-charger network Ionity charges €0.79 per kWh, or €0.35 kWh with a €17.99 subscription.
Also, it makes monthly budgeting easier for individuals.
Even if you don't use any electricity you still pay a day rate (on most tariffs).
What I'd hate to see long term is if the subscription remains tied to a single supplier (i.e. I pay my subscription to Tesla, but use Ionic to charge, so pay the subscription charge and the higher rate). That will mean the decision to use a different charge point still has repercussions, and prevents the openness of the infrastructure we (society at large if we're moving full electric) really need.
One of the great things mobile phones did for society was the PAYG model. It lowered costs for consumers and allowed to onboard even people with atypical cashflows, who might have otherwise struggled to afford monthly contracts. It was a great democratization of access, and that should be the model to pay for services.
Sadly, companies of all size prefer monthly "standing charges" because they make it much easier to fleece consumers by making them pay even if they don't use the service - and if you miss a payment, they can add further charges on top, increasing the abuse. Even mobile companies now make it harder and harder to get true no-strings PAYG accounts.
Until these EVs can match the convenience of gas, there isn't a point to get one. Especially since batteries are a huge tax on resources as it is.
The more we stop this parasitical "subscription for everything" model, the better.
So no, they don't require a subscription to fuel up. It's just a loyalty scheme.
If I have a subscription to Walmart which gives me half price food in return for $50/month, you can bet I'll always be shopping there.
That means I'll usually drive further for food, have less selection, and will be far less likely to switch to another grocery store.
When many stores have a subscription model, they can start to creep prices up for non-subscribers, and before long grocery shopping starts to look like cable internet or phone plans.
I can't 'just switch to AT&T for a few minutes to see if it's faster'!
Endgame:. "36 month Walmart Grocery Plus for $50/month. Early termination charge: $1800. For just $25/month extra, you can also shop at other Walmart locations."
- Beds and bed frames. Locally beds are marked up 1000%+ over the same bed I can get online. There is only one store.
- Protein drinks. I can buy out the local stores monthly/quarterly stock in one day. They are currently having issues getting my drinks. There is only one grocery store and people come from a neighboring state to shop there.
- Shelves. In fairness the local hardware store does have some shelves. I wanted steel shelves that can hold a lot of weight. They have the RubberMade shelves that don't meet my needs. I could weld some myself but the cost of steel is really high right now.
- Amino acids, Enzymes, High Quality Vitamins, Mastic Gum, Berberine, Garlic Extract, misc other molecules. The vitamins sold in grocery stores are not only low quality, but actually a cancer risk with vitamin E being the prime example. Males should never take alpha-tocopherol without a balance of gamma-tocopherol and selenium less risking prostate cancer. There are a myriad of other examples in this area. Convincing grocery store chains to carry the higher quality molecules is a herculean effort. When the cost of wood and steel come down I will be building a double-insulated geo-thermal greenhouse and will start producing some of my own molecules, but not all of them.
- Inverters, charge controllers.
- Medical supplies. I am trained as a first responder and have to be ready for family and neighbor emergencies. The local store only has what one would find in a grocery store.
- Radio equipment. CB HP/FRS, scanners, HAM, etc...
- Computer equipment. This is a no-win for me. Not only are there no local stores for this but Amazon has burnt me multiple times. Buying computer equipment on Amazon is a huge gamble.
I could continue listing things for a long time but it's easier to list what I could get locally.
Ionity is an outlier with its extreme pricing.