EV charging
Payments for EV charging
Card acceptance at the charge point, independent of the charger manufacturer and of the acquirer. It runs on the Switchio platform, so the payment part is configuration and not a new project for every network.
Why Switchio
Compliance without a lock-in.
The deadline is fixed, the hardware and the acquirer are not. Keeping those two open is the point of running acceptance on the platform.
- Ready for AFIRSince 13 April 2024 new publicly accessible charge points of 50 kW and more have to accept payment cards. From 1 January 2027 the same applies to existing points of 50 kW and more on the TEN-T road network and in safe and secure parking areas.
- Independent of the hardwareThe payment part is a software module, so it integrates with terminals from several manufacturers instead of tying the charger to one supplier.
- Independent of the acquirerMulti acquirer routing means the operator can change the processor or run several of them across markets without touching the chargers.
- Managed from the cloudTerminal network, software, transaction processing, clearing, settlement and reporting sit in one place, not in every charging station.
Three ways in
Where you sit in the chain.
Charge point manufacturers, operators and management systems each need a different part of the same platform.
Hardware producers
Payment acceptance built into the charger, certified once.
- Compatibility with payment terminals and EMV cards
- Open standards, ISO 15118 and OCPP
- Certified payment application on the reader
- Remote updates from the terminal management system
Charge Point Operators (CPO)
Card acceptance under your own brand, across borders.
- Contactless acceptance at every charge point
- Roaming and cross border operation
- White label, your brand on the payment screen
- Central reporting across the network
Charge Point Management Systems (CPMS)
Ready to integrate modules instead of a payment project.
- Payment modules ready for integration
- Real time APIs
- Support for several protocols
- Test and rollout support from our team
AFIR
Two dates decide the work.
The regulation sets when a charge point has to take a card. The rest is a hardware and certification plan.
New fast chargers
Every new publicly accessible recharging point of 50 kW or more needs a payment card reader or a contactless device.
Existing fast chargers
Existing points of 50 kW or more on the TEN-T road network and in safe and secure parking areas need a reader added.
Plan the retrofit
Retrofitting a network takes site surveys, hardware and certification, so the work starts well before the deadline.
Hardware
Terminals that go into chargers.
Unattended devices certified for the platform, with the same payment application and the same management as the rest of the fleet.
See the whole catalogue
PAX IM25Compact contactless reader for EV chargers, kiosks and transport, rated IP65 and IK09.
PAX IM30Unattended terminal for kiosks and EV charging stations.
NEXGO UN20Unattended payment module for kiosks and vending machines.
Ingenico Self/2000Contactless reader for self-service machines, with a 2 MP camera for QR code payments, rated IP65 and IK09.
References
Open loop charging, already live.
Card payments at charge points in Germany, without an app or a registration.
FAQ
EV charging payments, answered.
What charge point operators ask before the rollout.
What does AFIR require from charge point operators?
Publicly accessible recharging points of 50 kW or more built from 13 April 2024 have to accept payment cards through a card reader or a contactless device. From 1 January 2027 the same applies to existing points of 50 kW or more on the TEN-T road network and in safe and secure parking areas, so those stations need a reader added.
Do drivers need an app or a subscription?
No. Open loop acceptance means the driver taps a contactless bank card or a wallet at the charger, in the same way as at a shop counter.
Can we keep our current chargers?
In most cases yes. The payment part is a software module on a certified terminal, so the charger is extended rather than replaced. Which terminal fits depends on the enclosure and on the connectivity available at the site.
Can we change the acquirer later?
Yes. Routing is configuration on the switch, so the processor can be changed or several of them can run in parallel across markets without a software release on the chargers.
Talk to Us
Connect with Giorgi Tepnadze.
Share your charging setup with our Self-Service Lead Giorgi Tepnadze and get a map of how card acceptance looks on one platform.
Prefer email? Write to gtepnadze@switchio.com
