What to consider when choosing a payment terminal solution

There are multiple ways EV drivers can pay for charging their electric vehicles (EVs), such as RFID cards, mobile applications, and card payments. While being a fairly new solution, according to Mastercard’s study, 65% of consumers already prefer debit or credit card payments for EV charging. Still most Charge Points only offer mobile-first and subscription-based payment options, creating a barrier for ad hoc charging.

However, big change is underway as Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) has impacted Charge Point payment requirements. Now all new publicly accessible fast chargers must also accept common ad hoc payment methods, like bank cards and QR code payments.

This is why Charge Point Operators (CPOs) need a robust payment terminal solution to keep up with the regulations and customer preferences. A robust payment terminal solution supports major common card brands and card products, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards. This caters to a wide range of consumer and commercial needs.

3 Key aspects to look out for in payment terminal solutions

There are a few critical factors CPOs need to consider when choosing a payment terminal solution for their businesses.

Scalability

A comprehensive, cloud-based payment terminal solution allows CPOs to scale by supporting various payment terminal vendors. The chosen solution should seamlessly integrate with the existing EV charging management platform, as well. This eliminates the need for extra systems or third-party involvement, making the solution easily adaptable across markets. Cloud-based solutions also allow scalability in terms of the user experience (UX), as they enable CPOs to update tariffs in real-time across locations.

Easy implementation

Simplicity in implementation is key for CPOs seeking to move forward quickly. A cloud-based payment terminal solution offers a straightforward set-up process and makes sure that operators can connect terminals to their platform with minimal manual intervention. The chosen payment terminal solution should also seamlessly integrate and work across existing systems, no matter the chosen payment terminal brands or Charge Points vendor.

Consistent user experience

Consistency is key in delivering a seamless UX for EV drivers. One essential element of the charging payment experience is the uniformity in the payment process. A cloud-based approach enables CPOs to update the payment terminal’s visual interface according to brand, which further strengthens brand awareness and visibility. By attracting ad hoc drivers with a seamless, consistent user experience, it’s possible to boost revenue – also in the future.

Your payments, our responsibility

Last Mile Solutions has developed a payment terminal solution that covers all these key considerations. It is a smart move for CPOs wanting to take a lead in the EV charging business while complying to the latest regulations.

Our solution, developed together with Mastercard, offers a cloud-based, end-to-end payment management system. It covers all the steps of the payment management while being EU-tax compliant: from tariff setting to pay-out integration and receipt generation. We act as the Merchant of Record, eliminating the need for CPOs to onboard multiple acquirers or payment service providers.

Our solution is hardware-agnostic. You can integrate it into various payment terminals brands and vendors – whatever your business needs are. The solution can deploy terminals in a standalone mode or kiosk mode. This makes it easier to integrate the solution to individual Charge Points or retrofit it to existing charging locations.

Want to discuss how our new payment terminal solution can best serve your needs? Contact your Sales representative or leave us a message at sales@lastmilesolutions.com.