Everything business owners need to know about public EV charging and contactless payments

Public charging stations are becoming a must-have for businesses looking to attract customers, earn a passive income, and not be left behind. But there’s more to setting up than just installing a few EV chargers - you must also comply with the latest Public Charge Point Regulations. This means offering contactless payment options for drivers, making transactions easier and more streamlined.

 

Understanding the Public Charge Point Regulations at a glance:

In force from November 2024, the Government’s Public Charge Point Regulations set out the following key requirements for businesses installing new EV chargers:

• Contactless payments: Any charger above 8kW must support debit/credit card payments.
• Reliability & uptime: Charge points must be maintained at 99% uptime.
• Transparent pricing: Clear pricing information must be displayed before the charging session starts.
• Data & reporting: Operators must provide real-time status updates and report faults promptly.

These rules are all about making EV charging smoother, easier, and more accessible—so more people can make the switch to electric easily. For the full details, check the official UK Government EV Charging Regulations.

 

Why you need contactless payments

The Public Charge Point Regulations is something you can’t afford to ignore. In short, it’s the law. Effective 24th November 2024, the UK Government introduced new regulations aimed at improving transparency, reliability, and accessibility at public charge points. It’s part of a wider effort to support the transition to electric vehicles, reduce the carbon footprint, and help the UK meet its Net Zero targets by 2035.

One of the big updates in these regulations is the mandate for contactless payments at public charge points. From November 2024, all new public charge points above 8kW and existing charge points over 50kW must offer contactless payment options, such as debit/credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

We live in a world where people expect things to work instantly. Whether it’s tapping your card for your weekly shop or using your smartwatch to pay for a coffee, we’re conditioned to expect fast, simple transactions.

The same goes for EV charging. That’s great news for drivers but businesses are already facing the challenge of upgrading infrastructure. Installing a contactless payment system on every single charger could get pricey and the costs quickly add up if you’re outfitting a large car park or a site with multiple chargers.

To make it easier for businesses, we’ve launched vecPAY, our affordable contactless payment terminal that serves up to 10 chargers with just one terminal – like a traditional pay-and-display meter, but for EV charging.

 

What counts as a Public Charge Point?

It’s important to understand what counts as a "public" charge point under the new regulations. A public charge point is defined as one intended primarily for use by the general public. This can include:

• Public car parks, whether or not they’re exclusive to customers (think supermarket or hotel car parks).
• Car parks located on public roads for general use.
• Public charge points in privately owned locations accessible to the public, such as service areas.

However, the regulations do not apply to charge points that are restricted to specific groups, such as:

• Workplace charge points that are not accessible to the general public at any time.
• Charge points that are limited to residents and their visitors, or are located in private areas like driveways.
• Charge points that are designated for specific manufacturers’ vehicles or exclusive occupations (e.g., only taxis or emergency services).

If your EV chargers are for public use, you need to comply with these regulations. And if you’re a business owner, our vecPAY system is designed to make sure you’re fully compliant.

 

What is vecPAY?

Instead of building a payment terminal into every charger (which can get expensive), we’ve developed a more cost-effective solution. vecPAY is our smart contactless payment terminal that can manage payments for Charge Point Operators (CPO’s)

We’ve teamed up with PAYTER to offer a simple contactless payment system that meets the latest regulations. By combining PAYTER's technology with our easy-to-use terminals, we’re helping businesses stay compliant and improve the experience for drivers.

With vecPAY, you only need one terminal for every 10 chargers. Your customers can easily select the charger they’re using and pay for their charge right on the spot.

Plus, our vecPAY units come ready with a built-in 4G SIM, so they connect easily to any of our evec commercial EV chargers, like the vecGO, vecSPRINT, and vecBOLT. The setup is simple and fully compliant with the latest Public Charge Point Regulations.

 

The financial benefits of setting up contactless payment terminals

Installing contactless payment terminals units, rather than placing individual payment terminals on each charger, is a smart financial move. Here's why:

1. Cost-effective setup

Instead of having to install a separate card payment machine at each charger (which can add up quickly), you only need one payment terminal for up to 10 chargers.

2. Remote management

These terminals are connected to Monta, a backend software that lets you handle everything from your phone or computer. Want to add more chargers down the line? Easy. If it’s part of our system, we can set it up remotely—no hassle for you.

3. Attract more customers

EV drivers are more likely to stop by and spend time at places that have reliable, easy-to-use charging options. If you’ve got a setup that makes their lives easier, they’ll keep coming back.

4. Stay ahead of regulations

As of November 2024, the Public Charge Point Regulations require contactless payments for any chargers over 8kW for public use. Getting compliant now saves you the stress and cost of scrambling to upgrade later. By setting up contactless payment terminals, you’ll not only be legally compliant but also position your business to take full advantage of the growing EV market while saving on installation and operational costs.

 

Setting up your payment system

So how do you get started with the vecPAY?

• Each terminal comes with a touchscreen PAYTER payment terminal, integrated with Monta. This is where EV drivers can pick which charger they’re using and pay.
• The payment system supports Apple Pay, Android Pay, and contactless cards—all the familiar payment methods people use every day.
• One terminal can manage payments for up to 10 chargers, so there’s no need for a payment terminal on every single charger. That means lower costs now and an easy way to add more chargers in the future without extra hassle.
• Payments flow directly to your account via Monta’s platform, which gives detailed reporting for tracking profits.

 

How does payment work for customers?

For drivers, paying with the integrated PAYTER payment terminal is as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Pick the charger they’re using (each one has a number to keep things clear).
2. They pick their charger, tap to pay with their card, phone, or smartwatch, to start the charge.

3. The payment goes through a system called Monta (we’ll set that up for you). Monta handles everything—payments, monitoring usage, and even reporting if something needs fixing.

 

Wall-mounted or free-standing? Which is better?

With vecPAY, you’ve got options, and it’s all about choosing what fits your space best. Both the wall-mounted and floor-mounted versions work seamlessly with your evec chargers, so the decision comes down to where and how you want to set things up.

Wall mounted

The wall-mounted version is ideal for locations where you’ve already got existing walls like multi-storey car parks, or areas with limited floor space. Since it attaches directly to the wall, there's no need for digging or major groundwork, which makes installation quicker, less disruptive, and more cost-effective.

Floor-mounted

If you want something a little more noticeable, the floor-mounted version of vecPAY is a sleek, free-standing tower that stands tall and proud. Its high visibility makes it easy for customers to spot, even in busy places like large car parks or service areas. It’s a great option when wall space is scarce or when you want the payment terminal to be more accessible from a distance.

For added safety and visibility, the floor-mounted version also features built-in lighting. The lights make the terminal easy to spot, helping customers charge their vehicles even in low-light conditions or at night. This thoughtful design helps create a user-friendly experience while keeping everything secure and visible for everyone.

 

Both the wall-mounted and floor-mounted options come equipped with a built-in 4G router and SIM, ensuring that vecPAY connects smoothly and reliably wherever you decide to place it.

With fines of up to £10,000 for non-compliant charge points, public CPO’s need to be ready. These new regulations bring both challenges and opportunities. To avoid penalties, businesses need to make the necessary upgrades to their charging infrastructure.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Apple Pay or Android Pay at these terminals?

Yes! Our terminals accept both Apple Pay and Android Pay, making it easy for your customers to pay using the same easy methods they already have on their phones.

What if I want to add more chargers later?

No problem. Our system is scalable, and additional chargers can be added remotely if linked to the Monta platform.

Are there any extra costs for the payment system?

The system uses PAYTER payment terminals, which incur service fees paid directly to PAYTER.

 

One time connection fee	£12.50 per terminal. Up to a maximum of £187.50 per batch.
Monthly service fee	£7 per terminal/month. Starting from the date of activation.
Optional SIM monthly charger	£4 per active SIM/month This includes all the essential services: connectivity, support, firmware updates, the MyPayter reporting tool, and Payment Gateway Transactions.

 

Please note, these prices apply to Monta-managed charge points. If you're using a different back-office provider, the costs might vary. We’ll always be upfront about costs, so there are no surprises.

 

Get in touch with our evecsperts

We’re experts at helping businesses stay on track with these regulations. Whether you need advice on adding contactless payments, upgrading your chargers, or making sure your infrastructure meets the requirements, we’re here to help. Get in touch today, and we’ll guide you through the process.