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Comment by hnburnsy | Hacker News Reader

Serious question is every EU charger outlet billed in a common way, like with cash, an app, debit/credit card, in car screen, with a payment screen, or preconfigured to bill seamlessly?

Seems like the billing issues at non Tesla chargers in the US were a large part of the issues..

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There is no mandated billing method, but the ability to pay without registering an account is mandated. Additionally every charger has a unique id with a QR code.

Usually you either just plug it in (first party charger) or just scan the QR code with your favorite charging app which will handles the billing (third party charger).

I don't have that in my country, so that probably is not mandated in the EU or is very recent.

Here in Germany at least, most chargers accept RFID cards for billing, and basically all through an app.

My only problem with it is that the app that comes with my company's card is total crap (often won't start to charge, and then sees the charging port as being in use for like 5-10 minutes, so you have to wait that long for a second attempt. It's HORRIBLE.)

I can only talk for France. The payment is not standardized. Tesla is plug-and-pay like in the US but others are not. Every charging stations brand has its own app with the same issues as the US, where it may or may not work that day.

A law was passed earlier this year that means mandatory card/contactless payment, and prices clearly shown (as opposed being hidden in an app). Unclear exactly when it will be enacted though.

Thanks, what do the unbanked do in the EU? Some local cities have banned cashless stores, wonder if this will apply to EV chargers which seem to be unmanned.

>Thanks, what do the unbanked do in the EU?

Prepaid debit cards? Or otherwise charging at home / workplace.

I doubt there is any overlap between "unbanked" people an people who can buy EVs

Whilst I cannot speak for the entirety of the EU, at least in the Nordics, I'd say life would be pretty hard in many other aspects if you're unbanked. Just getting a salary would become problematic. Very few employers would pay out salary in cash.

Public charging would be far down the list there.

Thanks all who replied!

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