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Yes please, for easier fast charging!
By 2025, all fast charging for electric vehicles should be payable by card, which is great. It will be even more user-friendly if all apps and charging tags can be used at all charging stations, writes Fortum in Aftenposten.
Aftenposten highlights the frustration of EV drivers over how complicated it is to charge their vehicles. Apps and charging tags work at some stations, but not at others. It’s clear that this is both frustrating and exhausting to deal with.
Fast charging needs to become less complicated than it is today. In the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association's recent member survey, more than nine out of ten people called for a simpler, universal solution. However, responses to the question of preferred charging methods were more varied.
A charging tag is a simple and popular option that can easily be kept on a keychain. An app provides full insight into charging prices, route planning, and charging history, while a bank card doesn't require any customer registration.
A truly user-friendly charging network lets drivers choose their preferred solution. The move to introduce card payments at all stations is a step in the right direction, but more work is needed to fully meet customers' needs.
Make it easy for customers
Norway was once a world leader in charging infrastructure and services. According to the European EV Charging Report from 2024, Norway has the highest fast-charging capacity per capita, but unfortunately, it's not easy to make use of the entire network.
The reality is that Norway has fallen behind compared to Europe. While Norway has largely developed a closed charging network that requires different payment methods at different stations, many countries on the continent allow users to rely on a single payment solution across most stations.
"Fortunately, there’s a well-tested solution that gives customers more freedom: open roaming at all charging points and networks. Roaming means that the charging station is open to all charging services, allowing customers to choose one provider for charging tags or apps and use it everywhere. Simple, easy, and transparent."
Andreas Bränd, Chief Technology Officer, Fortum Charge & Drive
In the Ministry of Transport’s work on developing a new national charging strategy, the goal was to ensure user-friendly and sufficient charging infrastructure. The ministry warned against "regional payment solutions" and "lock-in mechanisms that may weaken price competition between operators."
It is paradoxical and unfortunate, then, that most Norwegian operators with closed networks are fully owned by the state and municipalities. By closing off the network or offering higher prices to other operators than they do to their own customers, public Norway is hindering open competition and universal payment solutions.
The introduction of card payments at all charging stations was a political decision and a welcome addition. But it’s only when card payment is combined with roaming, giving customers the freedom to choose, that fast charging will truly become user-friendly – for everyone.
Andreas Bränd, Chief Technology Officer, Fortum Charge & Drive
This is the original version of the opinion piece. A shortened version can be read on Aftenposten.no here: Ja takk til enklere hurtiglading! (aftenposten.no)
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