PayPal’s Electric Car Payments Scheme. Honest

Users of the ChargePoint electronic car network now forgo using a credit card and use PayPal instead, ChargePoint announced Monday (Oct. 27).

“With PayPal as a payment option, it’s even easier for drivers to plug in to a ChargePoint station,” Pasquale Romano, ChargePoint’s CEO, said in the release. “Combining the largest network for electric vehicle charging with a leader in digital payments means that more drivers can make the switch to electric.”

ChargePoint required users to have an account balance with a minimum $25 deposit before they can pay for charging on the network, but now PayPal account users can pay that $25 directly from a PayPal account through ChargePoint’s smartphone app. That amount is used to pay for any public charging sessions. When asked for payment information, drivers can choose PayPal and will be directed to PayPal to enter their username and password. To start charging, drivers can use the ChargePoint mobile app or wave their ChargePoint card in front of the station’s card reader.

“ChargePoint is committed to providing the most convenient charging experience and now, electric vehicle drivers can sign up and pay for charging with PayPal. PayPal has long supported electric vehicles and has installed 34 ChargePoint ports at their San Jose, California, campus for employees and visitors. By enabling people to pay for a charge using PayPal, we’re giving our customers a faster and easier way to pay,” the release said.

Although half of ChargePoint’s 19,000 locations are free, users can now have the choice of using PayPal or a credit card. Adding PayPal helps ChargePoint capture the audience who doesn’t trust giving up their credit card information online. PayPal also has a wide international audience and can attract clientele without U.S. Bank accounts.