The future of EV charging: A conversation with open-loop payments expert Ales Popelka

Aleš Popelka, Head of Mobility at Switchio, discusses the evolving EV charging payments landscape. As the industry grows, operators need seamless, scalable, hardware-agnostic solutions—challenges traditional systems face. In this interview, he explains why Switchio entered the EV market, operator expectations, and how open-loop payments are transforming charging.

There isn’t just one open-loop payment solution on the market—so what makes Switchio different?

Many providers offer open-loop payment systems, but Switchio stands out because we build everything in-house—from payment terminals to cloud processing and security frameworks. Unlike competitors relying on third-party vendors, we control every aspect of development, ensuring faster updates, stronger security, and seamless integration. This independence allows charging operators to stay hardware-agnostic and acquirer-independent, giving them the flexibility to scale and optimize their networks without being locked into restrictive ecosystems. With 25 years of expertise, Switchio delivers a future-proof, adaptable payment platform designed for the evolving EV charging market. 

What does the future hold for payment methods in e-mobility?

It's clear that the European Union is actively driving the standardization of EV payment methods, with a strong push toward contactless EMV payments. In the coming years, we fully expect EMV to become the dominant payment method, further driven by pressure from banks, payment associations, and end users who demand a seamless and user-friendly experience. Drivers want to tap their card or phone and charge—without needing apps or prepaid accounts.

However, we also see the future going far beyond EMV payments only. As e-mobility becomes part of everyday life, vehicles will very likely need to have their own digital identities, one implication of this will be to enable fully autonomous payments between cars and charging stations. Discussions with automakers on this topic are already underway, and this innovation will undoubtedly open new possibilities for seamless transactions. Until then, EMV will remain the leading standard, ensuring easy and secure payments for EV users.

Learn more at Switchio!