EV charging payments: A guide for CPOs

As EV charging market players, from charging operators to policymakers, try to find ways to make EV charging as seamless as possible, the focus tends to fall on one specific thing – payments. If the goal is to make EV charging as easy as refuelling a petrol car, simple EV charging payment solutions are essential.  

With more drivers choosing EVs, new regulations being implemented, and charging technology developing, the way drivers pay for EV charging has significantly transformed in recent years. 

The evolution of EV charging payments 

When electric cars first appeared on the market in the mid-2010s, they were connected to the grid just like any other electrical device. EV charging companies used to sell physical keys to unlock EV charging sockets and plug the car into the charger. Typically, the consumption was included in EV driver’s monthly electricity bill.

It’s safe to say that we have come a long way since.  

RFID & mobile apps  

As the EV market grew, new technologies were introduced to simplify payments. That’s when the RFID method started finding its place in EV charging. The RFID method uses a card or a tag to identify the car, start and stop charging and carry out payments. 

Alongside RFIDs, mobile apps began to develop rapidly. These apps show charge points and their locations and allow the EV driver to start and stop charging sessions. Payment is made directly from a bank card stored in the app. Today, each method seems to be preferred by about half of EV drivers. 

However, EV drivers and policymakers call for more simplicity, primarily to accomodate drivers who are not subscribed to any specific charging provider’s service. That’s where ad-hoc payments come into play.  

Ad-hoc EV charging payments  

Ad-hoc payments required by regulations  

On the EU level, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, or AFIR for short, is now in place, and payments are just one of many things the regulation addresses.

In effect since April 2024, AFIR states that ad-hoc payments for non-registered drivers must be made possible for EV drivers combined with providing them with transparent pricing information. On chargers of 50 kW and above, via a payment terminal, for chargers below 50 kW via, for example, a QR code directing to a one-time-payment option. 

In the UK, a similar regulation was enforced in 2023, which states that public charge point operators (CPO) must ensure that all new public chargers of 8 kW or above can accept contactless payment and that any existing public ultra-fast charge points are retrofitted with a contactless payment solution.  

So, what can charging providers do to comply with these regulations? There are a few options. 

Ad-hoc payment options for CPOs 

Dynamic QR codes  

QR codes offer an easy way to open a one-time payment page on a mobile device where EV drivers can fill in their card details to enable billing. QR codes are cost-effective, but if implemented as physical stickers on charging stations, they can be easily misused. This is where dynamic QR codes, displayed digitally on the charger screen, serve the best, providing secure and tamper-proof payments.  

Integrated payment terminals  

In the past few years, we’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of payment terminals coming to the market. These are the credit card terminals we have seen for decades at petrol stations. Let’s dive deeper into the different kinds of terminals and their integration processes. 

Directly integrated  

In this setup, the payment terminal is directly integrated with the charging station and physically embedded into the unit. The payment terminal and the charger communicate directly. The charger screen is used to select the socket and the payment method and to start charging, while the terminal is used only for the actual payment transaction by tapping the card. The charger then also generates the receipt for the EV driver, shows it on the screen at the end of the charging session and makes it available for download via a QR code or via the manufacturer’s portal.  

Advantages:  

• Intuitive user experience for the EV driver as all actions are performed on the charger screen 
• Full integration between the charger and the payment terminal 

Disadvantages:  

• Complex, manufacturer-by-manufacturer integration necessary  
• The charger manufacturer decides which payment terminals are available for integration 
• Only one payment terminal available per charger or satellite 

Cloud-to-cloud integrated  

Cloud-to-cloud integration means the payment terminal’s back-end communicates with the charging stations’ back-end, like Virta’s CPMS. The charger's back-end transfers the charging data into a payment transaction for the terminal to capture from the driver's payment card. The user experience flow happens on the payment terminal screen.  

Advantages:  

• This set up is charger agnostic which means easier implementation and retrofitting as the only thing needed is an installation slot and a power source 
• Works out of the box 
• Allows for over-the-air (OTA) configuration and commissioning of the payment terminals 

Disadvantages:  

• Cloud-to-cloud communication relies on a stable internet connection 
• All actions done by the EV driver happen on a smaller screen of the payment terminal 

Latest developments on the market  

 The development of EV charging technology has mainly been driven by the desire to achieve the ultimate convenience for the EV driver. With that in mind, the latest development makes the charging experience smoother than ever: enter automatic charging.  

Autocharge automatically reads the car’s Media Access Control (MAC) code or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and starts charging without needing the EV driver to log in or authenticate with an RFID or via a mobile app. Thanks to the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the payment process is also automated.  

The equivalent to Autocharge is a technology called Plug&Charge, based on the ISO5158 standard. However, Plug&Charge is not so easy to implement, which has delayed its roll-out in the European market.  

Virta’s EV charging payment offering

At Virta, we implement all possible payment options to offer our customers a wide selection based on their specific needs.

Virta mobile app 

With the Virta mobile app, EV drivers can find and reserve stations, start and stop charging, and pay with the method of their choice. The intuitive app lets EV drivers manage their accounts, add favourite stations, view their charging history, and print receipts. The Virta mobile app is available on iOS and Android.

RFID tags

You can also offer your customers RFID charging tags. This service works on a postpaid basis and all payments are carried out automatically through Virta.

One-time payment & dynamic QR codes 

Unregistered customers can simply open a one-time payment page on their mobile device, choose the correct charging station, input relevant payment information, and start charging their cars. After the charging ends, they are billed from their payment card.

EV drivers can also access the one-time payment page via a dynamic QR code on the charger screen. This service is available on Virta’s Alfen AC chargers.

Integrated payment terminal for Kempower and Alpitronic chargers

These payment terminals are a convenient, charger-specific solution for card payments, specifically at locations with DC chargers.

Cloud-to-cloud Apollo payment terminal  

A cloud-to-cloud payment terminal is a hardware-agnostic payment solution for card payments via the Payter Apollo terminal. This solution is perfect for quick stops with AC and DC chargers, as the payment terminal can be connected to any charger with an installation slot for it. 

Payment Kiosk  

The Virta Payment Kiosk works just like a payment terminal at a classic petrol station. The EV driver selects the right charging point at the Kiosk, pays with their chosen credit or debit card, charges their car, and is ready to go. The Kiosk can easily process card payments from up to 100 charging points at one location. 

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