Knowledge base > Charging passes and public charging
Price transparency at public charging stations
Price transparency around charging stations/charging sessions is important for trust in the charging infrastructure. We make sure that the rates are known prior to a charging session and that this matches what is shown on the invoice afterwards.
This is not an easy job because each provider has different prices, which can even be adjusted during the day. Also, the price combinations between the charging station and the charging card can be confusing for the EV driver.
To put an end to this lack of clarity, agreements were made with a large number of parties in the industry during an eViolin consultation. These agreements on price transparency should make it easier for the customer to know the price in advance. This will be mandatory for both the Charge Point Operator (CPO) and the e-Mobility Service Provider (e-MSP).
Of course, CPOs and e-MSPs are free to devise ways to achieve this price transparency. For example, they can refer to a website or an app but also by means of a sticker at the station.
Because Last Mile Solutions considers price transparency important, the organization has already taken the following measures:
- Made OCPI connections with other platforms / CPOs and e-MSPs in the market;
- Developed OCPI capabilities on the platform for third parties (platforms, CPOs or e-MSPs) and partners who want to connect to our platform;
- A white label charging app that displays prices of connected charging stations.
These OCPI links allow for the sharing of real-time pricing information from different providers. We are also working on a number of new features that will improve pricing transparency in the future.