Open access, RFID card, app or email - there are several options. Which does your VvE choose, and what are the trade-offs?
For the board: which method do you choose?
The way residents start a charging session is a deliberate choice by the board. In practice, a combination is often chosen. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages:
Open access - plugging in is all it takes to start charging. Maximum convenience and in practice this works better than many fear. Residents immediately receive a start email and can act quickly if anything seems wrong. The drawback is that billing runs per charging point rather than per person.
RFID card - the driver taps a card to start the session. Good identification and low fraud risk, but RFID cards add cost and administration and are therefore the least preferred option from a management perspective.
App - start a session via smartphone. Convenient and familiar for most users, with low administrative burden.
Email confirmation - after plugging in, the driver receives an email to confirm the session. Familiar, no extra hardware and minimal administration.
For the resident: how does it work in practice?
As soon as you plug in, you receive a start email with the current electricity price, the green energy mix for the coming hours and a suggestion for the best time to charge. After unplugging, a stop email follows with consumption per quarter-hour, the green mix and the total amount for the session. At the end of the month, all sessions are combined on a monthly invoice.
In the future, Plug and Charge (ISO 15118) will replace all identification methods: the car registers itself automatically when you plug in. This becomes mandatory for new charging points from 2027, though it will take some time before all vehicles support it.