Electric vehicle drivers prefer simple payment options such as Plug & Charge and direct ad-hoc payments at public charging stations, but are often forced to rely on apps and charging cards because of limited availability and high roaming fees, according to new research from USCALE.
The Charging Payment Study 2026, which surveyed 1,510 EV drivers in Germany, found a wide gap between preferred and actual payment behaviour, despite significant improvements in vehicle range and charging infrastructure over the past decade. The findings suggest that payment complexity has emerged as a persistent pain point for EV users.
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Plug & Charge was identified as the most preferred payment method, cited by 40% of respondents, followed by direct ad-hoc payment at 29%. However, only about half of drivers reported being able to use Plug & Charge in practice. By contrast, charging apps and cards dominate real-world usage, used by 77% and 70% of respondents respectively, even though they are preferred by just 17% and 13%.
USCALE said the mismatch is driven by structural limitations in the charging ecosystem. Plug & Charge is not consistently available, even at DC fast-charging stations, while many vehicles can store only a single Plug & Charge contract, exposing drivers to roaming surcharges when charging on other networks. Ad-hoc payment options, where offered, are often described as cumbersome and unintuitive.
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“There is no shortage of payment options, but none of them is truly convincing,” said Axel Sprenger. “Our data show that payment has become a key factor in the choice of a charging service and also influences the pace of EV adoption.”
The study found that most EV drivers regularly rely on two to three different payment methods, underscoring the lack of a single solution that combines simplicity, transparency, cost control and convenience. According to USCALE, the growing number of payment options has not translated into higher user satisfaction and may instead be discouraging potential buyers from switching to electric vehicles.
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The findings have implications for charging point operators, automakers and energy companies, as the industry seeks to simplify the user experience and support wider EV adoption. USCALE said its analysis also covers payment personas, closed- and open-loop systems, invoicing preferences and emerging approaches to charging payments.
