Charging cards: picking the right one

At virtually every public charger in Europe you start a session with a charge card or app. The charger belongs to an operator, but you pay through your own card — much like using another bank's ATM. Which card you pick determines your price per kWh.

Key point: almost every card works at almost every charger, but tariffs differ per card and per charger. Frequent chargers save serious money with the right card.

What to look for

• Fixed rate vs pass-through: some cards charge a fixed price per kWh, others pass on the charger's tariff plus a small transaction fee (€0.05–0.35 per session).
• Subscription costs: free cards abound; paid plans (±€2–7 per month) only pay off if you charge often or fast-charge a lot.
• Fast charging: tariffs differ most at fast chargers (50 kW+) — roughly €0.55 to €0.85 per kWh. Some cards offer discounts on specific networks.
• Roaming: check the card works in the countries you drive through and whether surcharges apply.

Find the charger first, then pick the card

Check per city which operators run the chargers near you — that determines your tariff. Browse the Netherlands, Germany or any other country and see the operator and power per street.