EV payment specialist Paythru has published its latest Charter for Smoother EV Charging Payments, setting out how EV charging can improve payments.

Drawing on feedback from the 50 companies that signed up to the charter, the updated version points to proven technologies that can address the payment challenges hindering the EV charging experience.

The original charter, released in 2024, made calls for greater consistency, transparency and reliability in five areas of EV charging payments.

The updated version now proposes practical ways forward and says industry feedback shows solutions to issues exist in other industries.

“What is interesting is that all the solutions are out there,” said Sara Sloman, chief strategy officer at Paythru. “Other industries have solved these problems. We just need to look at what’s been done and adapt those solutions to charge points.”

Key recommendations in the updated charter include clearer pricing communication.

Fuel pump pricing and mobile data plans already use clear pricing models and communications that could easily be adapted to EV charging.

“People don’t know exactly what a gallon of fuel or a gigabyte of data is, but they have a sense of what that gets them, because it has been communicated well,” said Sloman. Equally, banking apps such as Monzo and Starling demonstrate how clear communication can be achieved without jargon or lengthy glossaries.

The charter also explores universal payment access and says that embracing ‘open-loop’ payment systems, which are not network-specific, could allow fleet operators to issue fuel cards that work across all networks and other merchants while keeping the operator in control.

Other areas under focus include how to minimise payment failures and improve driver confidence; smarter pre-authorisation handling; and simplified transaction and notification processes.

“Rather than reinventing the wheel, we need to use the ones that already exist,” elaborated Sloman. “The charter demonstrates that smooth, intuitive EV charging payments are not a distant dream; they are achievable now. What’s needed now is broad adoption and interoperability, rather than new inventions.”

The updated charter draws on feedback from charge point operators, charge point management system providers, payments experts, and trade associations such as the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) and EVA (Electric Vehicle Association) England.

Paythru is hosting a virtual event to present the new charter. The event runs from 12.30 to 13.30 on Tuesday 29 July, featuring industry leaders including EVA England and the REA. Details are here.