A new electric vehicle (EV) charging payment interoperability service has been launched by Zap-Map.
Zap-Pay allows EV drivers to use a single app to pay for charging across different networks, with Engenie the first network signed up to the service.
Drivers using Zap-Pay will be able to pay for charging at any of the network partners as part of a pay-as-you-go tariff, with ESB EV Solutions, LiFe and Hubsta amongst others set to be introduced to the platform in the autumn.
Zap-Pay is to be rolled out across other UK networks in 2021 with the hope of providing “unrivaled coverage” across the country.
It bares resemblance to other new services launched by other players in the EV space, most notably the EV payment interoperability platform launched under Octopus’ Electric Juice umbrella, which also has Engenie signed on. Octopus’ also aggregates charges onto a single bill, targeting the fleet demographic.
Zap-Map is also developing new features to support the electrification of commercial fleets and other e-mobility services, it said, which are due to be rolled out over the next twelve months.
Zap-Pay was created due to the various different apps and cards required to charge on different networks across the UK, with a recent Zap-Map survey finding that charger anxiety – concern over being able to access the right chargepoint when needed – was an issue for 68% of EV drivers.
It is to also provide live status updates, charging history, PDF VAT receipts and 24/7 customer support.
At the time of its launch, it is live on ten Engenie chargepoints across four locations – Stratford, Gloucester, Chepstow and Bristol. By the end of this month, it will be rolled out across the whole Engenie network of rapid chargepoints.
Following Good Energy taking a 12.9% stake in the company in March 2019, Zap-Map told Current± it was working on the development of Zap-Pay before confirming in December 2019 it would be launched in early 2020.
Good Energy then increased its share in the company to 50.1% in June 2020.
Ben Lane, CTO and joint managing director at Zap-Map, said that providing a seamless charging experience is “essential to accelerate” the shift to EVs.
“We already buy much of our shopping with the tap of a finger – Zap-Pay means that EV charging is now the same. No one should need dozens of accounts, apps and cards to charge their car. With one simple app, drivers can now simply plug in and the app manages the rest.”
