EV Drivers Receive Assistance with Zapmap's Latest Charging Card Launch
Introducing the Zapmap Charging Card: Simplifying Electric Vehicle Charging
The electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape in the UK is about to change with the introduction of the Zapmap Charging Card. This innovative new card is designed to make charging electric cars easier, more accessible, and more confident for drivers across the country.
Melanie Shufflebotham, COO and co-founder of Zapmap, has stated that the new charging card makes charging with confidence easier. The card is part of Zapmap's efforts to facilitate the switch to electric cars and encourage more people into EVs.
The Zapmap Charging Card operates as a fully integrated payment method within the Zapmap app, offering a streamlined experience compared to traditional contactless payments at chargers. Users add their payment details to the Zapmap app, and the charging card can be used across multiple networks, providing a unified payment solution that can act as a "slick alternative" to contactless pay-as-you-go (PAYG) methods found on many rapid chargers.
In contrast, contactless payments at EV charge points in the UK generally involve tapping a bank card or mobile wallet directly on the charger’s reader. These chargers often offer pay-as-you-go pricing without a membership, with prices varying by network and charger speed. Contactless payments are widespread on newer rapid chargers, providing convenience without requiring setup in advance but sometimes at higher per-kWh prices compared to membership schemes or dedicated cards.
Here's a comparison of the key operational differences between the Zapmap Charging Card and contactless payments:
|Aspect|Zapmap Charging Card|Contactless Payment| |-|-|-| |Integration|Fully integrated into Zapmap app for cross-network use[1]|Direct tap on charger, no app required[3]| |Setup|Requires adding payment info in app and activating charging card[1]|No prior setup needed, instant payment possible[3]| |Payment model|Cross-network, potentially better control and pricing (depends on Zapmap agreements)[1]|Pay-as-you-go, often higher per-kWh rate than membership prices[2]| |Coverage|Works across multiple networks partnered with Zapmap[1]|Available on many newer rapid chargers across UK[3][4]| |Pricing|Potentially lower than contactless, especially if linked to membership pricing or discounts within Zapmap ecosystem[1][2]|Typically regular pay-as-you-go rates, less discounting[2]|
The Zapmap Charging Card is currently only available to Zapmap Premium Annual subscribers for a small fee. It will be rolled out to all Zapmap users later this summer. This new feature is an additional service offered to Zapmap subscribers for an additional fee, providing EV drivers with a convenient, app-integrated alternative to contactless payments, potentially simplifying payment across multiple networks and offering better pricing options.
Contactless payments remain widely accepted, requiring no pre-setup, but could be more expensive per kWh and less unified across networks. The Zapmap Charging Card aims to address these issues, making electric vehicle charging more accessible and affordable for a wider audience.
- The Zapmap Charging Card, an innovative new payment method, is designed to make electric vehicle charging easier for drivers across the country, facilitating the switch to electric cars and encouraging more people into EVs.
- The Zapmap Charging Card, fully integrated into the Zapmap app, offers a streamlined experience compared to traditional contactless payments, providing a unified payment solution that can act as a "slick alternative" to contactless pay-as-you-go (PAYG) methods found on many rapid chargers.
- In contrast, contactless payments at EV charge points in the UK generally involve tapping a bank card or mobile wallet directly on the charger’s reader, offering pay-as-you-go pricing without a membership, with prices varying by network and charger speed.
- This new feature, available to Zapmap Premium Annual subscribers for a small fee, is an additional service offered to subscribers for an additional fee, providing EV drivers with a convenient, app-integrated alternative to contactless payments, potentially simplifying payment across multiple networks and offering better pricing options.
- The Zapmap Charging Card, currently only available to Zapmap Premium Annual subscribers, aims to make electric vehicle charging more accessible and affordable for a wider audience by addressing issues with cost per kWh and unified networking.
