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Maze of rates for charging services
Time and again, electric car drivers are faced with nasty surprises when they are billed for charging at public stations. This is due to different rates offered by the various charging service providers, which are usually not visible on site. In this blog post, we explain how to avoid paying too much and describe a simple alternative.
There are basically two different options for paying for charging at public fast-charging stations: payment with a credit card on site (ad hoc payment) or payment with an app or RFID card from a charging service provider. These variants exist because the electromobility charging landscape includes charging providers who offer charging services to their customers under certain terms and conditions, in addition to charging station operators such as GOFAST.
Charging service providers define prices independently of charging station operators
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In order to benefit from the terms of a charging service provider, customers must register with the provider of their choice. They then have access to the provider’s charging app and, if necessary, are also given an RFID charging card. Particularly for new e-mobility customers, it is not entirely clear that these charging service providers offer not only different prices but also different rate models that are not directly related to the actual prices of the charging station operator at the site. |
Although this makes things complicated, it also provides compelling advantages for customers with differing needs.
Rate models for different user profiles
Different rate models have the advantage that drivers of electric cars can choose a charging service provider’s offering in line with their charging behaviour. Someone who can charge at home and generally travels relatively short distances needs a different model than someone who drives hundreds of kilometres a day or a company with a fleet of company cars. This is why there are subscription models for frequent chargers which, for example, combine a low kilowatt hour rate with a basic fee. However, there are also models with different kilowatt hour prices depending on the operator or those with standard prices throughout Europe. In addition, there are flat-rate offers or providers that bill a time-related rate in addition to the kilowatt hour price. The charging service provider Swisscharge, for example, offers attractive terms for charging at GOFAST charging stations.
Why is the price not simply written down?
The big issue with charging service providers is that each provider sets its own prices, so you might end up paying totally different prices at the same charging station, depending on which provider you choose. The charging point operators themselves are not informed of these many possible prices. This is also the reason why prices cannot simply be written down, although this is often what users want. As charging point operators are unlikely to find a viable solution to this problem in the near future for technical reasons alone, it will still be the customer’s responsibility to check their provider’s charging prices before using a station and to choose an alternative if necessary.
Price transparency with ad hoc pricing
If you are interested in a direct price from the charging station operator and want to avoid the need to manage several charging cards and compare prices in various apps, the ad hoc payment mentioned above is an alternative that ensures clarity.
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With this payment method, customers can simply pay by credit card at the fast-charging station without registering with a charging service provider. In this case, prices are set by the charging point operator itself and shown on the charging station display or mobile payment site before use. With GOFAST, the ad hoc price does not include any additional costs and is therefore often the most attractive option. The ad hoc payment is usually made by scanning a QR code or contactless via the payment terminal (see “How does ad hoc payment work?”). |
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Conclusion
Ad hoc payment by credit card and payment via a charging service provider are two types of payment that have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the application. Charging service providers offer different solutions for different customer needs but have the disadvantage that the terms may vary depending on the charging station operator and are not visible on site. Anyone who wants to benefit from the services of a charging service provider must always check the applicable prices in the provider’s app before using the station. For those who find this too inconvenient, ad hoc payment is a transparent alternative that works without having to register with a charging service provider. In the case of ad hoc payment by credit card, the charging station operator sets the prices itself and declares them on the display or on the mobile payment site before use. With GOFAST, the prices quoted are often the most attractive option.
How does ad hoc payment work?
In the case of ad hoc payment by credit card, prices are set by the charging point operator itself. Registration with a charging network is not required. Currently, there are two different methods for ad hoc payment depending on the charging station.
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