The future of fuel and EV-C payments and the dream of a unified solution

Regardless of whether we’re pumping gas or charging an electric vehicle, convenience is the name of the game. Or it should be, anyway. As the fuel market comes under increasing pressure to efficiently serve both conventional and electric vehicles, often while juggling a chaotic offering of subscriptions, fleet cards, and loyalty schemes, it has become highly fragmented. The need for harmonization across a given segment has never been more urgent.

Driving change in the fuel market

The rapid rise in e-mobility and growing number of electric cars on European roads demands accelerated development of infrastructure and seamless interoperability. The push is coming not just from EV drivers and fleet operators but from within the EU itself, with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) expected to come into force next year.

What is AFIR and what does it mean for petrol and charging stations?

Part of the EU’s plan for a green transition, the so-called Fit For 55 package, the AFIR mandates all EU member states to ensure that specific power output targets are provided through publicly accessible recharging stations. These targets are to be met by the end of each year. The AFIR also specifies deployment targets for 2025 and 2030, including mandatory installation of fast recharge stations every 60 km along main transport corridors. More importantly, however, the AFIR introduces an obligation to outfit public charging stations with payment card readers and retrofit existing stations as well.

One platform, one terminal, dozens of payment methods

Transforming the fuel payment landscape, now a fragmented jumble of different payment methods, into a single, efficient system should be the ultimate goal of any future regulation, and markets would do well to start preparing now.

Enter Switchio

Our platform is designed around a core idea: less fragmentation = more convenience. Capable of processing card, smartphone, smartwatch, fleet card, and other types of contactless payments and compatible with more than 40 different types of POS devices, the Switchio solution brings everything together in a singular payment system for petrol and EV charging stations that can be easily deployed throughout Europe. Moreover, it processes parking payments too.

Long story short – if it’s a cashless payment, we’ve got it covered.