SMATRICS E-Mobility Talk: Payment trends at charging stations
The 7th SMATRICS E-Mobility Talk focused on current developments regarding payment at charging stations. Participants included Hauke Hinrichs (CEO of SMATRICS), Christian Peter (Director of ElektroMobilitätsClub Österreich), Helmut-Klaus Schimany (Chairman of the Board of Bundesverband eMobility Austria) and Stefan Woschitz (Director of Fuel Sales at ORLEN Austria).
Practised e-mobility requires freedom of choice when it comes to payment
The more payment options there are at the charging station, the greater the need for communication, says SMATRICS CEO Hauke Hinrichs: “I am clearly in favor of this freedom of choice when it comes to payment. But we also need to reduce complexity and increase transparency. After all, not knowing a price point before you arrive at the charging station is not of use.”
As of March 2025, public fast charging stations will be required to offer direct payment, in other words, the option to pay directly by credit or debit card. This will bring further flexibility to the market. “Today, Austria has a very well-developed charging infrastructure and healthy competition.
Prices will also become increasingly important in the future,” says Hinrichs. SMATRICS has already equipped and upgraded all new and existing HPC charging points with direct payment terminals this year.
Direct payment on the rise
Gas stations are also increasingly becoming charge point operators, as is ORLEN Austria GmbH (formerly Doppler Energie GmbH).
In addition to traditional gas pumps, fast charging stations are already available at many locations. Combined fuel and charging cards as well as direct payment play an important role, especially for mixed fleets. “Customers want to pay as conveniently as possible – and we have to offer them the freedom to choose,” emphasizes Stefan Woschitz, Director of Fuel Sales at ORLEN Austria.
While two years ago more than 90 percent of charging transactions were processed via charging cards, the share is now around 80 percent with a downward trend. For customers – whether mixed fleets or private customers – maximizing network coverage, full functionality, speed, and convenience are the most relevant factors. Woschitz also sees cross-selling potential: “Charging is being embedded in an overall concept – from shopping to coffee.”
Mass appeal as a benchmark
According to an international study by the Global EV Alliance, 88 percent of respondents want to be able to pay with a debit or credit card. Christian Peter, Director of the ElektroMobilitätsClub Österreich, emphasizes: “E-mobility works when even an 80-year-old citizen with no technical knowledge can charge spontaneously.
We need a payment method that works for everyone." Given the rapid rise of e-mobility in Austria (+44.5 percent growth in new e-car registrations, +30.7 percent in e-car ownership – both year-on-year), e-mobility is no longer just for enthusiasts and early adopters.
The fact that paying by credit or debit card is now common practice is an important step in this direction.
The next step is to expand the charging infrastructure in rural areas. In the SMATRICS EnBW network, the distance between charging points is currently around 30 kilometers. The government's target is 10 kilometers – and, according to experts, this is entirely realistic.
This could also prevent regional monopolies from forming. After all, the charging price is crucial, according to Peter. “ People are generally better informed about where to find affordable charging options in their own region. This knowledge is usually unavailable when driving long distances, making a well-developed charging infrastructure along highways and expressways, as well as fair prices, essential.”
B2B and fleets rely on reliability
While fairness and ease of use are the most important factors for end customers, efficiency and reliability are the main priorities for companies, explains Helmut-Klaus Schimany, CEO of the Austrian eMobility Association. “In the B2B sector in particular – from company cars to commercial vehicles – clear, guaranteed services and calculable billing models are crucial. Fuel cards have been around internationally for over 40 years, and these fuel cards are now also taking on the charging business.”
Professional monthly billing, a predictable price, attractive international roaming contracts, and usability for travel expense accounting are key factors for fleet managers. “Direct payment is a useful addition for very specific areas of application.”
The demands on operators are also growing, as the need for a reliable charging network is much higher for fleets and electric trucks. However, Schimany expects even more momentum—keywords being bidirectional charging, storage, and gigawatt charging. “If we look back at the dynamics of the last 36 months in e-mobility alone, we can expect major changes that we never had with combustion technology at this pace.”