Australian public electric vehicle (EV) charging company Evie Networks has started trialling a new ‘Tap & Go’ payment option at select charging sites.
UPDATE, 06/12/2023 – An Evie Networks spokesperson has confirmed the new tap and go function still requires the use of the charger’s internet connection. This means if there’s a mobile outage it won’t work.
This means customers will be able to pay for their charging session with either their credit or debit card. No other major public EV charging provider currently offers this functionality.
Evie is initially testing this new payment option at five sites across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
The first site to offer tap and go is the HomeCo. Belrose shopping centre in Sydney’s north east.
Sites at Allambie Grove in New South Wales, Birkdale Fair in Queensland, as well as at the Collingwood Library and in Taylors Lake in Victoria will follow in early 2024. It’s likely more Evie charging sites will adopt the functionality if this trial is successful.
There’s a catch, however, as using this ‘Tap & Go’ payment option will cost roughly 5c per kWh more than if you pay through the app.
Using a Fast Charger, which charges at up to 50kW, costs 55c per kWh with the tap and go function. It typically costs 50c per kWh when you use the Evie app.
When using a Super-Fast Charger, which charges at up to 150kW, it costs 65c per kWh with the tap and go function. It typically costs 60c per kWh when using the Evie app.
Lastly, using an Ultra-Fast Charger, which charges at up to 350kW, costs 70 c per kWh with the tap and go function. It typically costs 65c per kWh when using the Evie app.
This means fully charging the best-selling Tesla Model Y RWD with its 60kWh battery pack will cost $3 more if you use the tap and go payment function. They’ll cost $33, $39, and $42, respectively.
“We’re giving you the power to choose how you want to pay,” said Evie Networks head of public charging Bernhard Conoplia.
“Whether you prefer your card, mobile wallet or love the Evie app, this trial helps us understand what works best for you.
“Your feedback is super important to us as we plan for the future.”
A Evie Networks spokesperson has confirmed the credit card reader that forms the basis of the tap and go payment function requires the use of the charger’s internet connection. This means if there’s a telecommunications outage it won’t work.
As recently reported, a nationwide Optus outage left Evie Networks public chargers temporarily unavailable unless owners had a physical RFID card.
The outage also affected Chargefox, which indicated around 210 plugs of the 2000 public and 3000 private plugs it supports had been hit.
Evie Networks currently has EV chargers at over 175 locations and is continually forming new partnerships to install more stations. Recent partnerships include ones with Dan Murphy’s, Red Rooster, and Hungry Jack’s.
