Charging apps are great, and we should know: as the UK’s number one EV charging app, with over two million downloads, we like to think we’re the experts. But we’ll admit that apps don’t always work when you need them the most, and sometimes they just don’t suit your needs or preferences.
For many drivers, an RFID charging card is far easier to use. You don’t need an internet connection on your phone, and there’s no need to hunt through an app for the right charger ID while you’re standing in front of it. You simply tap to pay.
This guide explains exactly how RFID technology works at a public EV charger, when you might need a charging card, information about the Zapmap charging card specifically, and how to choose the right option for your driving habits - providing you with an honest look at where RFID charging cards matter, and where you can comfortably stick to contactless payments.
What is an RFID card for EV charging?
Inside an RFID card is a tiny, hidden microchip and a wire antenna. When you hold the card near a reader, the reader sends out radio waves that wake up the chip. The chip then instantly transmits a unique "ID number" to unlock an EV charger.
Reassuringly, RFID cards do not hold your banking details, instead they hold an account ID, so a lost card cannot be used as a payment instrument elsewhere.
Where can you use RFID charging cards?
You can use RFID charging cards across tens of thousands of EV chargers across the UK. While the Public Charge Point Regulations (PCPR) forced newer Rapid and Ultra-rapid chargers to take contactless payments with debit or credit cards, there are tens of thousands of chargers that are exempt from this rule.
Because of the gap in the regulations, slower Standard and many Standard Plus chargers (3kW - 22kW) installed before the regulations took effect do not have to accept traditional contactless payments. Many EV drivers find the simplest way to access the approximately 80,000 chargers in the slower charging category is with the tap of an RFID charging card. Since the regulations took effect on 24th November 2023, all new charge points delivering 8kW of power and above must accept contactless payments by credit/debit card.
RFID cards vs contactless payments
Still unsure if an RFID card is the best payment method for you? You can of course choose to pay in-app, which many people find the most convenient method. In fact, in the Zapmap app, starting a charge is simple with just the click of the Pay button, and easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions are provided on screen. Paying in the Zapmap app also gives you the benefit of viewing the progress of your charge, and to stop your session at any time.
Below you’ll find a comparison table of the pros and cons of using an RFID card, your contactless bank card, or making charging payments within an app.
Feature | RFID charging cards | Contactless payments (debit/credit, Apple/Google Pay) |
|---|---|---|
Pricing & tariffs | Sometimes grants access to discounted member rates, subscription perks, or loyalty rewards. | Usually subject to standard guest pricing, which is typically higher than member rates. |
Acceptance & compatibility | Networks covered by roaming agreements. Can be limited to the specific charge point operator that issued the card. | Typically only supported on Rapid and Ultra-rapid chargers (although newly installed chargers under 8kW will also accept contactless) |
Ease of access & setup | Requires an upfront account creation, ordering a physical card/fob, and waiting for delivery. | Zero setup required; uses the payment cards already in your wallet or on your smartphone. |
Offline reliability | High. Can often authenticate via a local whitelist on the charger even if it temporarily loses internet connectivity. | Low. Requires an active real-time internet connection to ping the bank and pre-authorize the transaction. |
Billing & expense tracking | The majority of roaming providers of RFID cards only offer pay-as you-go payments. | Individual line items on your standard bank statement, mixed with your regular everyday purchases. |
Security & privacy | The card only transmits a unique token ID and holds no personal banking information, however lost or stolen cards put users at risk of fraud. | Secure encrypted banking standards, though, require temporary "pre-authorisation holds" on your bank account. |
Is there a Zapmap RFID charging card available?
Yes! Zapmap’s charging card enables payment across over 50 charging networks covering en-route, on-street and destination charging in the UK, including Connected Kerb, Be.EV, Fastned, IONITY, Osprey Charging, RAW Charging, and many more.
Finding chargers that accept payment via the Zapmap charging card is easy with the Zapmap app. Head to the filter menu, scroll down to ‘Payment typ’e, select the charging card option and hit ‘save’. You can then browse nearby chargers on the map, or switch to list view to get a more detailed at-a-glance breakdown of the chargers available.
Remember, you can also use the filters in the Zapmap app to refine your results by price, power rating, preferred network, location type, and many more options.
How to get and use a Zapmap charging card
- Add a payment method in the Zapmap app
- Order your card by selecting 'Charging card' in the settings menu and following the instructions on screen.
- Once your card has arrived, activate it in the charging card area of the settings menu.
- When you’re ready to charge, simply tap your Zapmap charging card against the RFID card reader at supported chargers
- Tap your card again to end the session
- Your session information and receipts will appear automatically in the Zapmap app.
When you actually need an RFID card
While modern contactless payments and smartphone apps are incredibly convenient, they aren’t always the best tool for the job. In fact, there are a few real-world scenarios where carrying a physical RFID card is the smartest, most stress-free way to access a charge for your EV.
When navigating large charging hubs
When you pull up to a massive charging hub with dozens of identical looking bays, finding your exact charger in a smartphone app can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Instead of scrolling through a long, confusing list of charger IDs on your phone, an RFID card lets you bypass this inconvenience. You can simply tap your card on the unit you are plugged into, and start charging instantly.
When charging in rural or poor phone signal areas
Smartphone apps and direct contactless card terminals rely heavily on a strong, real-time internet connection to talk to servers and pre-authorise bank transactions. If you find yourself charging somewhere like a remote rural area or a deep underground parking garage, your phone might lose signal completely. Because many chargers store a local "whitelist" of accepted RFID tags, a physical card can often authenticate and start your charge even when your phone network is inaccessible.
When you prefer not to rely on a smartphone or use credit/debit cards
Phones can run out of battery, screens crack, and apps occasionally glitch or require unexpected, time-consuming updates right when you are in a rush.
And, as much of the UK's charging network does not support contactless payment, an RFID charging card which covers multiple networks offers the simplicity of contactless without the need to have your credit or debit card with you.. It can live in your glovebox or wallet, requires no battery, and works every single time.
FAQs
No. Most public devices in the UK now accept either contactless payment or an in-app payment. An RFID card is useful as a backup, but it is not required to charge an EV in the UK.
The card holds a unique account ID, not your bank details. You hold it against the reader on the device, the device sends the ID to the operator's system to confirm the account is valid, and the session starts. Tapping again ends the session.
A network card only works on one operator's devices. A roaming card works across many networks via commercial agreements between providers. Roaming cards are usually the better starting point if you charge at multiple networks rather than one.
Zapmap’s charging card enables payment across over 50 charging networks covering en-route, on-street and destination charging in the UK, including Connected Kerb, Be.EV, Fastned, IONITY, Osprey Charging, RAW Charging, and many more.
Yes. Open the Zapmap app, tap the device on the map, and look at the info box. It lists the payment methods accepted on that specific device, including RFID, contactless, and directly in the app. You can see only the chargers that accept the payment type you wish to use by filtering by payment type also.
There are approximately 80,000 EV chargers in the UK that cannot accept contactless payment. Having an RFID charging card enables quick and easy access to charging on a huge portion of the public network.
Once an RFID charging card is set up for payment, you can start your charging session by just tapping your card against the RFID card reader, and tap once again to stop. In-app payments are also quite straightforward, but depend on your mobile phone having an internet connection and adequate battery.
