EV charging station POS · Card payments
Card payments for EV charging stations in South Africa
Drivers tap a bank card at the charger. No app, no account, no sign-up. VendBot adds a contactless card payment terminal to the chargers you already run and connects it to your charging platform, in your brand. Built in South Africa, for South African charging networks.
- WhatsApp charge updatesStart and receipt messages on the driver’s phone, in your brand, through the WhatsApp Business API. Available as an add-on, on request.
- The EV charging portalSales and session reporting, payouts straight to you, and a hold amount per site that we agree with you.
- Built locally, for youAll VendBot EV software is written by our developers in South Africa. Local support and fast fixes.
- Integrated for youOur South African developers connect VendBot to your charging platform and do the build.
The problem
What if the driver’s phone is dead?
Many public chargers need an app, an account or a pre-loaded tag. That fails the driver exactly when they need power most.
Each of these is a charge you could lose. A bank card needs no app, no account and no phone battery.
The driver experience
Tap to pay EV charging: six steps, in your brand
Park and plug in
The driver parks and plugs the car in as usual.
Your branded start screen
Your logo and colours on the terminal: your brand on every screen.
Tap a bank card
Contactless card or phone wallet, or chip and PIN on the screen. Charging starts only after the bank approves.
Walk away while it charges
The charging platform tracks the energy delivered.
Unplug when done
The session closes when the cable comes out.
Pay only for the energy used
The exact amount is taken; the bank releases the rest of the hold.
Illustrations.
Integration
EV charger card payments, integrated with your charging platform
Your chargers stay as they are. Card details never pass through your charging platform. We provide a sandbox and test tools, and our developers do the build.
Add-on, on request · WhatsApp updates
Plug in, tap, and walk away
Add WhatsApp updates to your network: the driver leaves a number on the terminal and gets two messages, one when the charge starts and one with the exact amount when it ends. Sent through the WhatsApp Business API, in your brand.
- Opt-in only, on the terminal. Skip is one tap.
- Messages inform the driver; they never decide the amount charged.
- No app for the driver to download.
Illustration in a placeholder operator brand (“Charge Now”). Example amounts.
The EV charging portal
Every session, every rand, reported
Card payments from your chargers run through the VendBot portal. We provide sales and session reporting, settle daily, and set the hold amount per site at the level you agree with us.
- Session reporting: energy and amount for every charge.
- Daily settlement, next business day: how VendBot card payments settle.
- Payouts go straight to you.
- Fast merchant onboarding for pre-authorisation.
| Bay | Energy | So far | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay 3 | 18.4 kWh | R77.28 | Charging |
| Bay 7 | 6.1 kWh | R25.62 | Charging |
Illustration, example data.
Proudly local
Built in South Africa.
A custom solution for your network, built and supported in South Africa.
- All VendBot EV software written by local developers.
- The whole team is in South Africa.
- Local support and fast fixes.
- Built to support thousands of devices across South Africa.
VendBot also runs card payments for other industries we serve.
Our offer
A free demo, on your charger.
- 01Pick a chargerChoose the site for the demo.
- 02We connect itYour platform and your brand.
- 03Tap your cardCharge and see the exact amount.
Questions
EV charging payments: common questions
Can drivers pay for EV charging with a bank card, without an app?
Yes. They tap a contactless bank card, or a card in a phone wallet, on the VendBot terminal fitted to the charger, or use chip and PIN on the screen. Charging starts only after the bank approves. There is no app to download and no account to create.
What is the pre-authorisation hold, and when is the rest released?
When the session starts, the terminal places a hold on the card. When the session ends, only the exact final amount from your charging platform is charged, and the bank releases the rest of the hold. The hold amount is agreed with you per site.
What if the driver unplugs early?
The session closes when the cable comes out. The driver pays for the energy delivered up to that point, and the bank releases the rest of the hold.
Can we add card payments to EV chargers we already run?
Yes. Your chargers stay as they are. The card terminal mounts at the charger, and our developers integrate VendBot with your charging-management platform through its API, so a card payment can start a session and the final amount is charged when it ends.
How does the card terminal connect to our charging platform?
Through your charging-management platform’s API. A card approval starts the session, the platform reports the energy and the final amount, and VendBot charges that amount when the session stops. We provide a sandbox and test tools, and our developers do the build.
Does it work with AC and DC chargers?
Yes. VendBot connects through your charging-management platform, so the charger type does not change the integration: AC and DC chargers are both supported. It is proven in the field on 22 kW Type 2 AC chargers.
Do card details pass through our systems?
No. Card details never pass through your charging platform. The terminal and our payment partners handle the card, and the portal shows masked card details only (scheme and last four digits).
Can the terminal and messages carry our brand?
Yes. Your logo and colours go on every terminal screen. WhatsApp charge updates are available as an add-on, on request, and are sent in your brand too.
When do we get paid?
Card payments settle daily, on the next business day, with payouts straight to you. The VendBot portal reports energy and amount for every session.
Can we try it before we commit?
Yes. We run a free demo on your charger: you pick the site, we connect it to your platform and your brand, and you tap your card and see the exact amount.
Do you install EV chargers?
No. VendBot adds card payment and reporting to charge points you already run. We don’t manufacture or install the charging hardware itself.
Where in South Africa do you work?
Anywhere in South Africa. VendBot is built to support thousands of devices across South Africa. Tell us how many charge points you run and where, and we’ll scope the integration and a demo.
Ready when you are
See tap-to-charge on your own charger
Tell us which charging platform you run and where your chargers are. We’ll come back with an integration plan and a demo date.