100 percent transparent and traceable prices at e-charging stations: SMATRICS Direct Payment Terminals comply with calibration regulations
Verbund subsidiary and charging infrastructure pioneer SMATRICS is the first in Austria to offer transparent and traceable charging costs with its Direct Payment Terminals, which comply with the Measures and Verification ordinance.
Greater transparency, greater security, greater trust in e-charging: at the beginning of January, the SMATRICS Direct Payment Terminal (DPT) solution was officially certified as compliant with German calibration law by means of a type examination certificate. SMATRICS is thus setting a new standard for transparent charging costs—especially for occasional and first-time users who charge spontaneously via card payment with VISA, Mastercard, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. While users with a charging card or app are usually familiar with fixed rates, prices for direct payment can vary. This makes maximum transparency all the more important.
"Our SMATRICS Direct Payment Terminals exceed current legal requirements in Austria and are the first of their kind in Austria. Once again, we are pioneers in price transparency,“ emphasizes Hauke Hinrichs, CEO of SMATRICS. ”As a Verbund subsidiary, transparent and comprehensible billing for charging is naturally very important to us—it is just as important that customers have clarity and certainty about costs at all times. The independent audit confirms the immutability of our measurement and billing data, including the relevant energy quantity and price. We are thus consciously focusing on traceability and maximum consumer protection – even without any current legal obligation in Austria," Hinrichs continues.
A further step that goes beyond the legal requirements
In accordance with the AFIR regulation, the subsidiary SMATRICS EnBW has already equipped all ultra-fast charging stations with direct payment terminals in 2025. The next logical step will follow at the beginning of 2026: calibration certification of the direct payment terminal solution. This certification is already mandatory in Germany, but not yet in Austria. Nevertheless, SMATRICS is deliberately focusing on a uniform, future-proof solution – in the best interests of customers and to build trust in e-mobility.
100 percent transparency for e-mobility users
Compliance with calibration regulations applies not only to the terminal itself, but also to complete traceability on the invoice. The process is therefore based on familiar procedures:
- Display price: Customers see the applicable rate before charging begins—similar to the price per liter at a gas pump.
- Unique transaction ID: When charging begins, a unique ID is generated—similar to a receipt number.
- Double check: This ID is generated again during the payment process and verified—similar to a PIN check. The charging process only starts if the IDs match.
- Verification after charging: Once the charging process is complete, all measurement and payment data is checked again.
- Full transparency on the invoice: The invoice contains a verification code and a link to the transparency software. There, customers can check the rate charged and download the verified measurement data.
“We rely on trust at the touch of a button: sustainable mobility means security and transparency for all users—from e-mobility professionals to occasional or first-time users. With our terminals’ compliance with calibration law, there is no black-box charging or surprises after payment,” says Hauke Hinrichs.
Protection against tampering as a quality feature
Like a sealed electricity meter, SMATRICS Direct Payment Terminals are also sealed. If a terminal is opened or damaged, an integrated protection mechanism automatically deactivates the device.
Customers can also find the relevant certificates on the website here.