Charging App is the Most-Used Payment Method at EV Charging Stations

Contracted payment methods are most popular for charging at public charging stations. However, open ad-hoc payment methods are catching up and gaining in importance. 

Charging card, charging app, debit card or smartphone wallet? There are many different ways to pay at a charging station. However, contract-based payment methods such as charging cards, charging apps or Plug & Charge are still the preferred option for public chargers, according to a study by the market research company Uscale, which examined the preferences of European e-car drivers (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands) at the charging station. However, open ad hoc payment methods are catching up and following close behind.

According to the study, credit, debit and giro cards are very popular with EV drivers in Europe for authorizing and paying at charging stations. Averaged across the five largest European markets (Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain) and the Netherlands (another important e-car market), 46 % of BEV drivers often or always use a credit, debit or giro card at public charging stations. 39 % would often or always pay ad hoc at the charging station with their smartphone. The impetus for the contract-independent forms of authorization and payment methods was provided by the AFIR regulation, which makes the option of card payments at many public charging stations mandatory in all EU countries from April 2024.

But according to the study, this is not the end of charging cards, apps and RFID chips, the so-called closed-loop systems that stand for contract-based charging. This is because the most popular payment method continues to be the charging app, which 65 % of the EV drivers surveyed use frequently or always. In Germany, the charging app has even increased by 16 %. Plug & Charge comes in second with 50 %, followed by charging cards with 46 % and ad hoc card payments.

Countries Show Differences

The analysis also shows that the various markets and countries have different preferences when it comes to payment methods. According to the study, credit cards are used much more frequently in Spain and Italy than in the other countries. EV drivers in the UK would most often use Plug & Charge, while charging cards are more popular in the Netherlands.

The study found that the most important reason for respondents when choosing their preferred authorization and payment method was convenience, although respondents interpreted convenience differently. Users of open-loop systems, on the other hand, cited independence from specific providers as the most important reason for use.

This is a partly automated translation of this German article.