The expansion of electric mobility is transforming not only how we charge vehicles, but also how we think about the experience of using charging stations. As charging hubs increasingly integrate more stations in the same location, a simple question arises: will it be necessary to have a payment terminal at each charger?
Tesla is one of the most interesting examples of this approach. According to Kiosk Marketplace, the brand has begun deploying, in certain locations, an autonomous payment kiosk (self-service kiosk or self-checkout) that serves several Superchargers, replacing the need to provide an individual terminal at each station.
Tesla itself currently confirms that payment terminals exist in selected locations and that Superchargers V4 may include this feature.
One Terminal per Charger or a Central Kiosk?
Traditionally, a charging station with multiple charging points might associate a payment terminal with each charger. It’s a straightforward approach: the user arrives at the station, chooses the service, and makes the payment at the equipment itself.
But when a location starts to have multiple chargers, this architecture also means multiplying hardware, electronic components, interfaces, maintenance points, and elements subject to intensive use and external conditions.
A centralized self-service kiosk proposes a different logic.
Instead of equipping each charger with a complete payment system, there can be a single dedicated interaction point, through which the user selects the charger they want to use and makes the payment.
It is precisely this logic that is beginning to gain relevance as stations evolve from simple charging points into true electric mobility hubs.
Less Hardware, Less Complexity
One of the main advantages of centralization is quite evident: a single kiosk can serve multiple chargers.
This can represent a significant reduction in the amount of hardware needed at a station, especially in larger installations. ChargePoint, for example, currently offers centralized payment solutions in self-service payment kiosks for extensive charging networks, precisely with the aim of reducing the number of individual terminals.
The logic is simple: More chargers don’t necessarily mean more payment terminals.
A station with 8, 12, or more charging points can concentrate payment interaction in a central unit, keeping the chargers simpler and dedicated to their main function: supplying power to the vehicle.
This architecture can be particularly interesting for new hubs, but also for modernization or expansion projects of existing stations.
Operational Advantages of the Solution
Equipment installed outdoors is subject to intensive use, temperature variations, humidity, dust, and other environmental factors. The greater the number of electronic components distributed throughout the station, the greater the complexity associated with its maintenance may be.
Centralizing the interaction in a self-checkout kiosk allows concentrating components such as display, user interface, and payment terminal in a single piece of equipment.
Instead of there being a potential problem at each charging point, there is a centralized point of maintenance and support.
This does not mean eliminating the need for charger maintenance, of course. It does mean simplifying the payment layer and user interaction.
A Simpler Experience for the Driver
Centralization should not be seen solely as a technical or economic decision. There is also an important User Experience dimension.
Imagine a station with multiple chargers:
- The driver parks and starts the vehicle.
- They go to the central self-service kiosk.
- They select the corresponding charger.
- They make the payment.
- The charging is authorized.
Without the need to search for a specific terminal at each station.
The self-service kiosk can feature a simple graphical interface, identifying available chargers and allowing the user to select the one they wish to use.
This approach can be especially useful in large hubs, where multiple chargers are close to each other and where the existence of multiple terminals could make the experience visually more complex.
Tesla is not the only company exploring different payment models. IONITY, for example, provides ad hoc payment through contactless terminals in specific locations and also allows the terminal to be installed separately from the charger, allowing the user to select the extension they wish to use.
The company also offers payment via QR Code, apps, RFID, and Plug & Charge, demonstrating how the charging experience is evolving towards an increasingly multimodal model.
Operators such as Fastned, Electra, and Atlante, along with IONITY, are part of a broader trend of expanding European charging networks. By 2025, these companies announced the ChargeLeague collaboration, with more than 1,700 stations and 11,000 charging points combined.
In this context, the question ceases to be simply “how to pay for loading?” and becomes “what is the best architecture for making this payment available?”
The Self-Service Payment Kiosk Can Be More Than Just a Payment Terminal
This is where a centralized kiosk starts to gain even more interest. If a display and digital interface already exist, why limit the equipment to payment?
The same point of interaction can offer:
- Status and availability of chargers;
- Rates and terms of use;
- Charging instructions;
- Station information;
- Services available nearby;
- Promotional content;
- Digital advertising;
- Institutional communication.
Thus, the kiosk transforms into a digital point of information and interaction, and not just a banking terminal.
In a context where charging stations are often located near restaurants, commercial areas, hotels, service stations, or rest areas, there is still potential to create a digital experience integrated with the surrounding ecosystem itself.
The evolution of electric charging stations is leading us to increasingly complex spaces, with more power, more chargers, different forms of payment, and a greater need for user information.
In this scenario, the centralized self-service kiosk emerges as an interesting alternative to rethink the architecture of these facilities. As charging hubs grow, centralization can mean simplification, less hardware, fewer maintenance points, greater flexibility, and a more consistent digital experience for those using the station.