The leading operators of public charging stations in Europe utilize several of the most popular payment systems for their services. These include a fixed charge, a charge per volume of electricity consumed, a charge per charging time, and a mixed system.

Selected operators of EV public charging stations offer their customers various subscription packages, allowing them to adjust the payment amount in the most optimal way to their needs for using public chargers. Such solutions include a predetermined fixed fee payable on a monthly basis. Additionally, a variety of promotional instruments, such as discounts, are used to enhance the interest of potential customers in a particular network. Depending on the situation, EV drivers are often subject to additional fees, such as roaming charges when charging a vehicle abroad on a particular operator’s partner network or a fee for blocking space at the station after the recharging process.

The F5A analysis shows that each of the payment systems used has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the fixed charge rewards drivers of electric vehicles equipped with capacious lithium-ion batteries. From the perspective of EV users, the most transparent and attractive solution is a system that bases the charge on the amount of electricity actually consumed. In this case, customers do not face the risk of unplanned disconnections between the car and the station or reduced charger power resulting in longer recharging times and additional costs. Additionally, this solution allows for a reasonably precise estimation of the costs associated with using a public charger.

The amount of the charge should ensure sufficient revenue while also attracting as many EV users as possible to a given network. If a potential customer in a particular location has a choice of DC stations with similar power capacity but belonging to different operators, they will likely opt for the one that offers the most affordable charging option. Currently, such a scenario is relatively uncommon in Poland due to the early stage of development of the EV infrastructure. However, as forecasted by F5A, with the implementation of further projects in this area, the situation will gradually evolve, and competition in the sector will intensify.

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