Ionity is installing centralised contactless payment terminals at selected charging parks across Europe, using units designed to resemble birdhouses. The terminals allow drivers to pay by debit or credit card for charging sessions at multiple charging points without requiring a separate payment terminal at every charger.
The rollout is part of Ionity’s efforts to retrofit older charging locations to meet the European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requirements.
One Payment Terminal Serves Multiple Chargers
The centralised terminals, which Ionity calls “Birdhouses”, are intended for older charging stations where retrofitting individual chargers with payment terminals is difficult.
Drivers paying directly by card must activate the charging station’s display and then use the separate terminal to complete payment before connecting the charging cable to their vehicle.
Customers using charging cards or mobile apps can continue to start and manage their sessions directly at the charger, with no change to the existing process.
At the locations described, Ionity’s ad-hoc charging tariff is €0.69 per kWh. This rate applies to customers paying without a charging subscription or other contract, subject to the applicable terms.
Rollout Covers 464 Locations in 22 Countries
Ionity said the retrofit programme covers 464 locations across 22 countries.
In Germany, the company has already installed Birdhouse terminals at more than 60 locations, including Gruibingen Süd, Riedener Wald West and Haidt Süd. Further installations are ongoing.
Felix Sold, Ionity’s Head of Marketing, Brand & Communications, explained that the central terminals provide contactless debit and credit card payments across several charging points at each site.
Design Reflects Ionity’s Brand Identity
Ionity said the unusual design was chosen to give the additional payment equipment a distinctive appearance rather than installing a conventional standalone box.
“And if we have to install an additional box anyway, we thought: why not make something beautiful out of it? That’s why the card terminal became a birdhouse—fitting with our brand symbol, the red kite,” said Sold.
The centralised approach provides a way to add contactless payment functionality at existing charging parks without requiring extensive modifications to every charging station. It also introduces an additional step for drivers paying directly by card, while app-based and charging-card payments remain unchanged.
