Imagine this: you're on a road trip through Europe in your all-electric car, cruising through picturesque landscapes, stopping at quaint little towns along the way, enjoying the eco-friendly ride. Everything is perfect—except for one glaring issue. Paying for EV charging can be a nightmare.
While the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is in full swing, the simple act of paying for a charge remains overly complicated. Charging Point Operators (CPOs) offer a range of options—RFID cards, mobile apps, debit and credit cards—but the lack of a unified payment system makes it frustrating. Many charging points across Europe don’t even accept basic debit or credit cards. It’s no wonder people are calling for a payment system that seamlessly integrates all the different CPOs under one umbrella, making it easy to charge anywhere.
Currently, the system is fragmented, and until we get more electric cars on the road, this chaotic infrastructure likely won't be fixed. But why does it always seem so difficult to just pay?
The EV Charging Chaos Is Just the Beginning
It turns out the challenge of simply paying isn’t limited to EV charging. If you’ve ever tried to pay for parking in a big city, you’ll understand the struggle. There are multiple parking apps, all with different requirements—some ask you to link your bank account, others prefer your credit card, and a few want you to register a profile with personal information. It often feels like you need a PhD just to pay for an hour of parking.
The complexity doesn't end there. Many of these apps come with confusing user interfaces, multi-step authentication processes, and restrictions on which payment methods are accepted. While these systems were designed to streamline payments and move us closer to a cashless society, they’ve sometimes ended up doing the exact opposite—creating layers of complexity that make it harder to complete a simple transaction.
Leaving Cash Behind—At a Cost
As we move away from cash, you’d think the rise of digital payments would make life easier. After all, we’re being told that technology is making everything faster and more efficient. However, that’s not always the case.
The enrollment process for many payment systems—whether it's setting up an app or linking your card—can range from mildly annoying to utterly exasperating. You often have to input card details, go through identity verification, and deal with security hurdles before you can even make your first payment. And once you've set it up, there's no guarantee the payment method you’ve chosen will be accepted everywhere you go.
Take a look at major events like the Olympic Games. The Paris 2024 Olympics was gearing up to be one of the most tech-savvy, yet surprisingly, only Visa cards was accepted at Olympic venues. Mastercard, American Express, or any other cards? Forget it. Your only other option? Cash. But who carries cash these days when every bank is pushing us to go digital?
It’s ironic that in an era where digital payments are supposed to simplify our lives, we’re still facing these barriers. We're encouraged to embrace cashless transactions, but the systems in place often seem like they were designed to test our patience, not to make life easier.
Why So Difficult? I Just Want to Tap and Go!
Why are we overcomplicating something that should be simple? After all, all we want is to tap and go. Whether it's for an EV charge, parking, or a soda at a major event, the dream of seamless, frictionless payment seems so close, yet so far.
The problem lies in the fact that many of these payment systems were built without considering the user's experience. Technology has rushed ahead, leaving convenience behind. Companies race to introduce their own apps and platforms, but the lack of interoperability between systems means we end up juggling multiple apps, cards, and methods, often unsure which will work in a given situation.
For example, EV charging stations are a clear case of how payment innovation lags behind technological progress. We have electric cars that can drive autonomously, yet paying for their energy source can feel like a chore from the past.
Or consider global events like the Olympics. It’s baffling that in a world where multiple forms of payment should be at our fingertips, we’re restricted to just one payment provider, as though it’s still 1986.
Is the Sweet Dream of Simple Payments on the Horizon?
So, is it possible to finally make payments simple? Tap and go shouldn’t just be a dream; it should be the standard. Technology has the potential to make payments smoother and more secure, but it will require companies to prioritize user experience over exclusivity and fragmentation.
The good news is, the demand for seamless payment options is growing. As consumers, we can push back by choosing products and services that embrace true convenience. Companies, in turn, will be forced to adapt, and in the future, the dream of just tapping and going might actually become a reality.
Until then, we’ll have to keep navigating this complicated landscape. But here’s hoping that soon, we can say goodbye to the stress and hello to a world where paying really is as easy as tapping and going.
