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Electric vehicle is charging from a smart ac charger. The charger is connected to a cloud. The driver is accessing the service from a large smart phone that displays the user dashboard.

Five Requirements For Futureproof EV Charging

Last Updated: June 29th, 2023 | Economy and Policy

The buildout of electric vehicle charging networks is an exciting project. From on-site chargers linked to hotel or restaurant businesses to nationwide networks that enable cross-country road trips, the electrification of transportation is becoming more and more accessible. While more public charging opportunities are a good thing, EV charging regulations are in the early stages of development. For EV drivers, the most pressing issues are reliable services and standard payment gateways. Let’s go through the top five futureproof ways charging service providers can give customers what they want before they become requirements.

1) No Subscription Fee or Membership Sign Up

There is nothing more disappointing than driving to a public charger only to find it requires an account to gain access. Your options are to create a new account or purchase a paid membership plan. This limits a comprehensive EV charging infrastructure and relies upon driver desperation.

Publicly accessible means no exclusivity to charging locales, especially on major highways, workplaces, campuses, or shopping centers. Noodoe chargers enable easy charging experiences with three easy steps: Scan, Pay, and Charge. Drivers just need access to a smartphone and an available charge port. After scanning a displayed QR code and choosing a payment method (more on that later), the charging session begins. No membership sign-ups, app downloads, or required subscription fees.

2) Flexible Payment Methods

Cash or card? That question is becoming as outdated as internal combustion engine vehicles. There are also digital wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay that allow buyers to complete transactions. Contactless methods are easy, efficient, and essential for EV charging stations.
 
Flexible payment methods are necessary integrations to EV chargers. While memberships can be useful for a driver with a local charging routine, it’s not feasible for more populated areas with several different operating networks. On top of accessibility to chargers, drivers should also be able to pay for their kWh by modern methods. Prepaid, postpaid, contactless card readers, and digital wallet options ensure anyone can get charged when they need.

3) All Fees Disclosed at the Point of Sale

It seems like a simple request, right? Being upfront with connection fees or potential additional costs that a driver may incur avoids any confusion. Invisible fees or post-session charges do not cultivate trust in a charging provider. On top of that, affected drivers are likely to tell others in the EV community about negative experiences.
 
Service fees and occupancy rates are decided by individual site owners or network managers, but public charger use is also subject to local tax rates. For full transparency, final payment screens need to include the total tax amount of the session and if the displayed prices are tax inclusive or not. Taxation of EV charging sessions is not uniform, but with smart integrated tax software, it can be easy. A smart cloud-based EV OS can receive real-time updates of local requirements and implement them automatically.

4) Roaming Standards

When it comes to necessary charging, roaming agreements between networks offer a multitude of benefits for drivers and the charging service providers. Allowing drivers to access charging stations across the different networks is similar to the first requirement of membership-free sessions but with an emphasis on interoperability and collaboration for charging infrastructure.

Example

An EV driver travels to a different area that is not covered by their home network. Luckily their network expanded its reach through partnerships with other networks, allowing the driver membership-level access to charging ports without investing in further infrastructure. This eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions and provides greater flexibility for travel.

While encouraging seamless access to charging stations across different networks using a single membership or payment method, roaming is key for a user-friendly EV charging experience. At this time, roaming interoperability has only been enabled by a few networks, but as competition encourages innovation, more are sure to follow.

5) Session Information

Once a vehicle has been plugged in, customers want to know how long they need to wait before returning. For AC chargers with a longer average charge time or DC fast chargers, this waiting time can mean exploring nearby shopping centers, having a meal at the restaurant that manages the charger, or an overnight stay at a hotel. Accurate session information helps drivers understand charging speed with the display of federal standardized power information.
 
By linking to the charging session, customers can receive real-time updates from Noodoe EV OS regarding their session. With accurate power information, can trust the experience and more accurately plan their range expectations for the following drive. If the power levels are lower than the driver needs for a full recharge, they can instead set smart battery targets to get them back on the road for a little bit longer. Accurate session information and smart customer solutions are what make Noodoe EV OS the best customer-centric EV charging network management system.

The Bottom Line

These five suggestions aren’t just from listening to customer feedback; they are also based on upcoming EVSE regulations like California Air Resources Board. The electrification of transportation will shake up more than how drivers charge up. Revolutionize the EV experience by making charging more accessible, intuitive, and futureproof. 

Further Reading

  1. California Air Resource Board Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Standards Regulation Background and FAQs
  2. What is Roaming in EV Charging?
  3. Noodoe EV Charging Hardware

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