Charging for electric car charging - how to choose the right payment model

Five things to consider when pricing EV charging

1. Smart charging technology enables accurate billing

When EV charging was new, most sites used a simple flat-fee model because there were no good systems for tracking consumption. Today, smart OCPP-compatible chargers allow accurate, real-time energy billing, making consumption-based pricing both fair and easy to manage.

2. Use a monthly subscription to secure cost recovery

In addition to billing for electricity, a monthly subscription fee can cover:

• installation costs
• ongoing operation and maintenance
• hardware depreciation
• administrative overhead
• a reasonable profit margin

This reduces your financial risk — especially as electricity prices fluctuate.

3. Reduce friction to maximize customer satisfaction

The most user-friendly experience is one app and one system for both parking and charging. Customers park, plug in, tap “Start charging,” and billing happens automatically.
A smooth charging journey = higher satisfaction + fewer support tickets.

4. Charging speed impacts your cost structure

AC charging has significantly lower installation and power requirements than DC fast charging. If you offer fast charging, treat it like a premium product and price it accordingly.

Read more about fast vs. slow charging here.

5. Increase utilization by controlling access throughout the day

If demand is high, offer different subscriptions for daytime vs. evening charging.
This evens out load, reduces queues, and increases utilization across the full 24-hour cycle — boosting both revenue and customer satisfaction.

Two payment models for EV charging

These are the two most common and effective models used today. Both can work well — the right choice depends on your property type, customer needs, and your investment strategy.

Model 1: Fixed monthly fee + variable energy billing

This hybrid model splits pricing into:

• a fixed monthly subscription for access
• a variable fee per kWh for energy consumed

This creates a fair, transparent billing structure where customers pay only for what they use — and you avoid financial risk when electricity prices rise.

Example: € 30/month + € 0,3/kWh

Advantages

• Fair, consumption-based pricing for customers
• Works well with smart load balancing
• Encourages conscious charging behaviour
• Ensures cost recovery for electricity
• Scalable and predictable for long-term growth

Disadvantages

• Less incentive for frequent use
• More strain during low-price hours
• Requires automated meter readings and variable tariff updates

Model 2: Fixed monthly fee with unlimited charging

A flat-rate model is simple to manage and attractive for customers who prefer predictable costs — but it comes with risk.

Example: € 80/month (unlimited charging)

Advantages

• Very easy billing for both customer and operator
• Predictable monthly revenue and ROI
• Strong incentive for customers to adopt EV charging
• Suitable as a premium add-on option

Disadvantages

• Unfair for low-usage customers
• Cannot be combined with load balancing
• High risk of under-recovering costs if electricity prices increase
• Harder to manage peak load behaviour

Charging the right way: pricing and customer experience go hand in hand

Whichever model you choose, remember this: EV charging feels complicated for many people. A simple, transparent, customer-friendly pricing model is one of the strongest drivers of loyalty.

With a smart charging system, you can offer multiple pricing options — and let customers choose what suits them. The result is:

• happier users
• higher occupancy
• stronger recurring revenue
• a future-proof charging and parking business