EV Charging Methods: How to Pay?

The idea of an EV might sound a bit daunting if you’re unfamiliar with charging stations. They’re not always as straightforward as petrol pumps and because the charging network isn’t nationalised or dominated by a select few, there’s several different providers that require different payment methods. Apps like Zap-Map and the manufacturer's own apps will show which charging stations would be compatible with your vehicle and what type of payment method they require.

Once you find a local charging station that’s suitable for your vehicle then you will likely adopt the tech ecosystem required to access the charging point, but if you plan to travel or your local spot is out of order, it’s important to keep up to date and prepare for different payment methods. No electric charging locations accept cash, so either a physical card like a bank card or RFID will be required, or an app or webpage that you can access on your phone.

Charge at Home 

At home charging is a good way to keep your vehicle topped up overnight so it’s ready to go the next morning. If you don’t have a wallbox installed at home, charging via a three pin plug will take longer and potentially won’t be able to fully charge the battery in one night. 

Charging at off-peak times can be a cheaper way to fill up the vehicle and unlike public chargers where the price is calculated by time, when you charge at home, the price is based on consumption. If you have a smart meter, you can track how much it costs to top up your car.

Network Apps 

Electric charging providers have their own tech ecosystems that include in-app payment systems to interact with their charging stations. The apps will show where the charging stations are and payment details will be loaded in the app to make sure you’re billed correctly. Examples of EV apps to locate and pay for charging include: Octopus Electroverse, ChargePoint, BP Pulse, PlugShare, Tesla, Osprey, Shell Recharge, Gridserve, Instavolt, GeniePoint, Ionity, Zap-Map, EV.Energy, Pod Point, Bonnet and Ecotricity.

QR Codes 

These are similar to network apps and when scanned lead to a webpage where you can handle payments. QR codes can be prone to scams as people can stick different QR codes over the top. These false codes can direct you to websites that at a glance appear to be legitimate but can instead be used to steal your payment information. If you try a charging station that uses a QR code, check the website address is spelt correctly and the webpage branding matches the signage at the station, if the QR code appears brand new and the sign is worn and faded, this could also be an indication of a scam. If in doubt, call the charging provider to confirm the legitimacy of the code.

Plug & Charge Genesis 

The plug and charge concept is one that’s expected to be the future of EV charging. This, in theory, should make charging a lot more straightforward and take the hassle out of using different apps and payment methods. A digital identifier in the car is read by the compatible charging station and communicates where to send the invoice once charging is complete. Genesis has just introduced this technology in its 2023 GV60 models, with upcoming models also having this facility and the potential to upgrade existing vehicles. Genesis’ Plug & Charge can be used with Shell Recharge stations.

Zap-Pay 

Zap-Map is a platform that shows where EV charging points are. It includes details such as how powerful the charger is, whether it’s available to use and how much it will cost per kWh. To make payment easier across different providers, Zap-Map has set up a cross network payment platform: Zap-Pay. The idea is to consolidate payment for a number of separate providers into one app. There are currently nine networks covered by Zap-Pay including Osprey, ESB Energy, char.gy, GeniePoint, Mer, MFG EV Power, Fastned, Alfa Power and Connected Kerb.