Short answer: The global standard for chip-based bank card payments, increasingly required on public EV chargers for direct tap-to-pay transactions.
Explanation
EMV stands for Europay, Mastercard, and Visa, the three companies that originally developed the chip card standard. When a charger has an EMV payment terminal, you can tap your regular bank card (credit or debit) to pay for charging without needing a charging account, app, or RFID card.
EU regulations are pushing for all new public chargers above a certain power level to include EMV payment terminals. This is a major improvement for drivers because it eliminates the need to download yet another app or sign up for yet another account. You just tap and charge, the same way you pay at a shop or petrol station.
EMV terminals on chargers typically place a pre-authorization hold on your card (often 50 to 100 EUR) and then settle the actual amount after the session ends. The hold is released within a few days. This can temporarily reduce your available balance, which catches some people off guard.
Where you'll see this
- On the charger screen
Common confusion
People sometimes think EMV and RFID are the same because both involve tapping a card. EMV uses your bank card for direct payment. RFID uses a charging network card to identify your account. Different cards, different systems.
Example
An Ionity charger with an EMV terminal lets you tap your Mastercard to start charging without any Ionity account. A pre-authorization of 100 EUR appears on your statement and adjusts to the actual cost within a few days.
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