Suppliers of charging stations have so far been free to choose which payment solution they want to use. Today, most offer payment via app, or with a chip that only works at their own charging stations. Elbilistar has thus had to look after a sea of different payment solutions at charging stations around the country. But from 1 July, life on the road with an electric car will become easier. Then all new charging stations must accept bank cards as payment. The requirement is part of the charging strategy presented by the government in December 2022. Lance Tjessem had to change charging stations after problems with the charging app. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm Electric car owner Lance Tjessem recently experienced trouble with a charging app he was supposed to use. – I was actually going to use another charging station right over here, but I couldn’t get it to work. So then I ended up here. I had this app before, he says, and points to the charging station he is about to use. He has three different charging apps on his phone for the charging stations he usually uses. – But right now I’m on a trip, and in such cases where I charge at random places, it’s incredibly good to be able to use a card. Will the EU come first – We at the Electric Vehicle Association have been working for this for several years, and are very happy that it is finally coming. Because it should be easy to pay for charging, just like you pay for petrol or diesel, says general secretary Christina Bu. Eventually, there will also be EU requirements for card payments at all charging stations. – I think it is good that Norway has done it before it becomes an EU requirement, because we are further ahead when it comes to the use of electric cars than other countries in Europe. For now, the requirement only applies to new charging stations. But work is underway to see what will happen to the more than 6,500 chargers that already exist. – The requirement does not apply to older chargers that already exist, but the Storting has made a decision to look at how we can implement it retroactively, says transport minister Jon-Ivar Nygård. Charging chaos is stress Christopher Hipkiss and Katharine Cliffe have connected their car to a fast charger outside a shopping centre. They think it’s stressful to take care of all the charging apps that exist. – This is wonderful news. You can just pull out the card and be done with it, says Christopher. – Absolutely brilliant, Katharine chimed in. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT: Katharine Cliffe and Christopher Hipkiss are positive about the new rule change. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news But not everyone is positive about the rule change. Electric car owner Erling Aaslid, for example, sees no advantages with it. – The arrangement I have now is very good. There I can enter my information, and then I can automatically charge. Even though he has 5-6 different charging apps on his mobile, and struggles to get the charging to work when news meets him, he has no doubts: – I don’t want to be dependent on having a card with me! SKEPTICAL: Erling Aaslid is not convinced that card payment is the best payment tool when he needs to charge his car. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news
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New requirements for payment at charging stations – now it is card payment that applies to electric cars – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
