Ionity Installed Centralized EV Charging Payment Hubs
The company introduced birdhouse-shaped payment terminals across European charging parks to meet new regulations.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Ionity has launched centralized, birdhouse-shaped payment terminals at selected electric vehicle charging sites to facilitate ad-hoc payments. This initiative aims to streamline the payment process across existing infrastructure.
Why it matters
The new design serves as a consolidated payment hub for older charging stations that are difficult to retrofit individually. This strategy helps the company minimize construction costs while maintaining compliance with AFIR requirements.
Ionity set the ad-hoc charging rate at €0.69 per kWh for users of the new terminals. More than 60 of these units are already operational across Germany.
The players
Ionity
This joint venture operates a high-power charging network for electric vehicles across Europe.
The details
Drivers activate a charging station display and then complete a contactless payment at the central birdhouse terminal before plugging in their vehicle. This system specifically caters to customers paying ad-hoc, as those using charging cards or apps bypass the terminal.
Timeline
October 7, 2026: The initiative details were published.
Roadmap
This deployment marks a significant effort by charging networks to standardize payment accessibility across legacy hardware. It reflects the broader industry shift toward creating unified user experiences to support the transition to electric vehicles.
Drivers can now utilize contactless credit or debit cards for ad-hoc charging sessions at participating locations. This change simplifies payment for occasional users who do not rely on specific charging apps or network cards.
The takeaway
The implementation of central hubs offers a practical solution for updating older stations to modern digital payment standards. Users should verify if their charging park is equipped with the new terminal before initiating a session.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in the Electric Vehicles sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Electrive.
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