Cariqa, a Berlin-based company, is fundamentally transforming the electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape with its innovative payment platform. Moving away from the traditional model of payment through e-mobility providers as resellers, Cariqa’s platform connects charging point operators (CPOs) and customers directly.
Through the Cariqa app, EV drivers can access direct prices from charging providers, bypassing the need for intermediary e-mobility service providers (EMPs). This new approach promises a range of yet-to-be-revealed benefits for customers, enhancing their overall charging experience.
For CPOs, Cariqa’s platform offers several key advantages:
Full Price Control: Operators can set and adjust energy prices independently and in real-time via the Cariqa Command Center. These prices are then directly communicated to customers without any markup. The platform also helps CPOs optimize station utilization by dynamically adjusting prices based on local and regional demand.
Promotional Campaigns: CPOs can quickly launch marketing campaigns through the Cariqa Command Center. This ensures that promotional efforts directly benefit customers, with no discounts being consumed by resellers.
Direct Customer Relationship: Cariqa facilitates the transaction, invoicing, and customer support for charging sessions, maintaining a direct relationship between CPOs and their customers. Unlike traditional EMPs, Cariqa acts as a neutral facilitator.
Faster Cashflow: With Cariqa, CPOs benefit from quicker disbursement of charging fees, receiving proceeds within days instead of weeks. The platform charges a small commission per charging session, ensuring a fair and transparent fee structure.
“Cariqa does not interfere with the current sales strategies of CPOs, including their own EMP solutions or partnerships with EMPs. Instead, Cariqa serves as an additional sales channel, fully controlled by the CPOs,” explained Tamara Ciullo, co-founder and CCO of Cariqa. “Similar to how Booking.com connects hotels and travelers, we help CPOs and EV drivers connect in a convenient way.”
Cariqa is set to launch the pilot phase of its new payment system soon and has already partnered with several CPOs. As part of this transition, the existing offer where customers could book monthly kilowatt-hour packages will be discontinued. Current customers will receive credits for the new dynamic system, ensuring a seamless and risk-free transition.
“With this change, we are offering a groundbreaking innovation that will redefine charging for electric vehicles,” announced the Cariqa team. Further details about the new system will be revealed in the coming weeks.
