Why the right payments are important to make it a reality
In the drive sustainability, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of Electric Vehicles (EV) on our roads. It’s expected that 30% of all new vehicles sold in Europe will be battery-powered by 2025.
However, to go carbon neutral by 2050, Europe doesn’t just need more EVs, it needs more EV chargers too. In 2021, there were around 375,000 public charging stations in Europe. But this will need to reach at least 3.4 million by 2030. That means the current rate of rollout will have to increase from 1600 to 6000 a week.
Payments are a core part of the equation
Expect massive demand for unattended payment solutions that can be rolled out at scale to meet the diverse needs of all those involved in public EV infrastructure e.g. fuel forecourts, utility providers, service stations, parking companies, retailers or shopping centres.
This includes easy to integrate, robust and reliable acceptance hardware capable of empowering all types of charging estates from the smallest of installations to large nationwide networks and even international parking/charging estates as they spread across Europe.
Smoothing the path to sustainability
A big factor in success will be ease of use. The more effortless it is to charge vehicles, the more people will be attracted to EVs. Conversely, any acceptance delays cause friction and leads to bad experiences and puts users off.
EV service providers and parking solutions integrators need to get it right. Charging on the go needs payments that are quick, easy, and remote and allow payment by smartphone through mobile payments or parking/charging apps.
Here are some important things to look for when choosing an EV payment solution:
Contactless
Most EV transactions will fall under the contactless threshold. With fewer people carrying cash, they simply want to tap and go with a payment card when they return to their vehicle. They may also want to pay using a digital wallet from their smartphone making contactless acceptance a must.
Omni-channel
Some drivers want to be able to pay for their charging through an app rather than at the device itself. Being able to book and pay can be an added advantage especially for commuters, fleets and other regular users.
Robust
EV charging points are often unattended, outdoors and exposed to all weathers. Integrated acceptance devices must be rugged and reliable to withstand these conditions to ensure continuous uptime and prevent charging bays from lying empty because payment can’t be accepted.
Apps
As mentioned, many drivers will want to pay to charge via an app. If you offer this service, EV charging points must be connected and able to confirm digital transactions.
Easy to update
With connected acceptance devices, you can update the software on all your payment points remotely as new updates and security patches are released. They can also be used to flag issues and maintenance alerts. This cuts costs and makes estate management much easier.
Secure
Of course, payment devices must be secure to safeguard EV charge providers and their customers. That means conforming to all the necessary PCI, PSD2 and GDPR requirements as well as being physically vandal-proof.
Castles Technology helps make the electric dream a reality
Whether you’re a parking merchant, a utility manager, a retailer or an unattended device integrator, Castles provides a suite of products that are perfect for EV charging applications.
Our unattended solutions are already in use across Europe in some of the most challenging installations including vehicle parking and forecourts. In addition, our devices are recognised for their security, durability, functionality and value.
Find out more about our unattended payment solutions.
Or if you’re visiting the Retail Technology Show at London Olympia, 26-27 April come to see them in action on the Castles Technology Stand 6C70.
