Charging made easy - it's that simple on the road

  - •  

  - •  

Reading time: 4 Minutes
Payment at charging stations Contributing photo: Woman uses an electricity ticket on her smartphone to charge her e-car

Frequently cited arguments against electromobility are the insufficient charging infrastructure and the complicated payment methods. This has not been true for a long time. We will show you how simple and provider-independent payment at charging stations has become.

In Dresden alone, and in the districts of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, Bautzen and Görlitz, more than 50 public charging points are available for charging electric vehicles. And new ones are being added all the time. In the meantime, there are various options that make it possible to pay at charging stations regardless of the manufacturer of the charging station or the energy provider. Apart from their smartphone or a charging card, e-car drivers don't really need anything anymore. As our trainees show in this article. This simplifies the charging of one's own vehicle and also offers owners of public charging stations numerous advantages.

Even more convenient than at the petrol station: this is how payment at charging stations works via app (Direct Pay), e-roaming or with SachsenEnergie's StromTicket offer.

Explained in practical terms: this is how Stromticket, Direct Pay and e-roaming work

CURRENT TICKET

Sachsenenergie's electricity ticket works in a similar way to other smartphone ticket systems for public transport or Deutsche Bahn, for example. After registering online and depositing payment data, you can use the certified charging point. When you park your electric vehicle, you connect the e-car to the charging point by cable and then open the app. Depending on the selected electricity ticket tariff, you will now be charged for the charging time. Payment at charging points can then be made conveniently by credit card, direct debit or prepaid. The Stromticket thus offers maximum flexibility.

 

Advantages of the StromTicket system are:

  • Convenient operation via Android, iPhone app or mobile website,
  • secured TAN procedure,
  • No monthly basic fee, no minimum contract period,
  • Cashless and secure payment by direct debit, credit card or prepaid,
  • personal online user account for turnover and invoice display and
  • at the same time access to the electronic ticketing system of numerous local transport companies in Germany.

 

E-roaming

If you already have a charging card from an electricity provider of your choice, you can fill up with electricity at all e-roaming-enabled charging stations. The focus here is on networking: for example, you can refuel in Hamburg at the same rate as with your home provider. Billing is done conveniently in the background; the refuelling costs are then part of your electricity bill at home or for your business, for example. In order for the charging station to be able to assign your provider, you usually only need a smartphone or a fuel card.

Advantages of e-roaming are:

  • e-Roaming works at 70,000 charging stations - across Europe
  • Billing via electricity provider at home or at work
  • kWh price is the same as for the personal electricity tariff
  • No monthly basic fee, no minimum contract period
  • Can be combined with a fuel card, for example for employees, but can also be used with an app
 

Direct Pay

Another way to refuel without a contract is to use a direct pay system. The "E-Charging" app, for example, is available free of charge for Android and iOS. An integrated overview map shows all available charging stations. A navigation option makes it easier to drive to the desired charging point. In most cases, you can also see whether the charging point is free or occupied. Billing takes place either directly via the mobile phone contract, prepaid credit, direct debit or credit card. Thanks to the SMS option, "e-Charging" also works without the Internet. The costs for the charging process are displayed transparently for each charging point in the app or appear on your mobile phone bill.

You can also use the "E-Charging" app to fill up with electricity at the so-called partner charging stations. You can find an overview of these partners and their charging points in the app.

Advantages of the E-Charging App:

  • Convenient operation via Android, iPhone app or mobile website,
  • No monthly basic fee, no minimum contract period,
  • Cashless and secure payment via mobile phone contract or prepaid credit and
  • clear display of the transactions.

PAYING AT CHARGING PLACES AT A GLANCE: THESE ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ELECTRIC TICKET, E-CHARGING AND E-ROAMING

Contract-free and contract-based charging have their advantages and suit different needs. In our overview you can see the similarities and differences between the 3 systems.

 

If desired, all three systems - StromTicket, e-Roaming and e-Charging - can be combined at one charging point.

WHAT THE ACCESS AND BILLING SYSTEMS OFFER OWNERS AND PROPRIETORS OF CHARGING STATIONS

For you as the owner or proprietor of a charging point, for example in a publicly accessible car park, e-roaming, the "E-Charging" app and the StromTicket from SachsenEnergie are worth considering. The only requirement is that you are connected to the SachsenEnergie access system (backend). The access and billing systems offer advantages such as the administration of user data or the monitoring of the charging points, fault management, etc. In addition, you will receive (pro rata) fuel sales via all three systems. And if there should ever be any problems, the provider's free service hotline or a SachsenEnergie advisor will support you. All three solutions can be combined at one charging station.


Do you have direct questions about the billing and access systems for mobile charging of your e-vehicle? Write them to us in the comments - here or on Facebook. 

At umschalten.de we update our articles with information relevant to you, so that you always have all the information you need.

A contribution by Stefan Oswald

Share post

Guide to switching

Our guide

to switch

Everything you need to know about funding,
costs, best practice and more ...

Our guide

to switch

Everything you need to know about funding,
costs, best practice and more ...

Guide to switching
Search

Imprint

Data protection