Painful charging payments take the fun out of EV ownership
According to a case study conducted for the German Payment Systems Initiative (Initiative Deutsche Zahlungssysteme – IDZ), the public EV charging landscape in Europe is one of chaos, particularly in terms of payments. Looking at 61 charge point operators (CPOs) with some 30,000 facilities in both urban and rural locations across the continent, the study found that only six of them offer cEMV payments.
- 9 out of 10 CPOs in Europe offer closed-loop payments only
- For e-mobility enthusiasts, a closed loop is a closed door
Barriers on the road to a fluid charging experience
Closed-loop payments in EV charging are anything but convenient. They require use of a proprietary card or an app or website, which in turn requires signing up for a subscription or membership, entering personal data, and verifying an email address. Sound like a pain in the neck? Add in poor mobile internet coverage in rural areas, and a simple stop to recharge can quickly become a living nightmare.
The path of least resistance? Open-loop payments
E-mobility is gaining momentum, and EV owners want services that enhance their ownership experience, not spoil it. If CPOs are going to capitalize on growth in the market, they need to offer open-loop payments.
- Transparent, straightforward, and secure payments
- No charging cards, memberships, or subscriptions
- Higher operating efficiencies, lower maintenance costs
- Convenience of cEMV increases traffic and revenue
Switchio provides a comprehensive solution for contactless payments (bank card, smartphone, virtual wallet) in a wide range of settings, including public EV charging. Deployment is fast and requires little upfront investment.