ABB wants to simplify payment at charging stations by acquiring Vourity

ABB E-Mobility has acquired the Swedish start-up Vourity. The latter's cloud-based technology is designed to simplify payment at charging stations for electric cars with various payment options. ABB is also securing essential technical expertise with the takeover.

The acquisition of Vourity enables ABB to integrate the payment terminal with cloud-based technology into its charging stations. It is unclear whether it is possible to retrofit existing charging stations. However, the terminal can be a central “payment station” for several charging stations at one location.

The charging process can be billed using credit cards (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay, Swish, Vipps or RFID charging cards or tags. It is also possible to enter a PIN.

As the Swiss technology group puts it, the provision of user-friendly and seamless payment options for consumers is one of the most important components in accelerating the introduction of electric vehicles. With the acquisition of Vourity, ABB wants to play its part and expand its customer offering. The company even refers to the takeover as a “key element” for its technology portfolio.

The EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) will likely play a significant role. The regulation contains binding requirements regarding the distance between charging parks and their charging capacity and payment modalities. According to the regulation, “users of alternative fuel vehicles will have to be able to pay easily at recharging points” – easily meaning payment cards and contactless payments that do not require a subscription.

Last month, the British government made public charging easier with new regulations. Accordingly, all new public charging points with at least eight kW of power must enable contactless payment. Companies must also allow their customers to pay via a third-party provider.

In Germany, publicly accessible charging points that go into operation from July next year must have a credit card terminal. The second ordinance amending the Charging Station Ordinance, which came into force on January 1, 2022, originally stipulated that operators of charging stations that are put into operation for the first time from July 1, 2023, must offer “at least contactless payment by providing a standard debit and credit card.”

abb.com