Business settlement of charging costs for electric cars?

Introduction

More and more people drive an electric car for work. If you charge at home or at work, you want to settle those costs with your employer simply and fairly. You have probably come across the terms CPO and (e)MSP. Here you can read what they mean and how to settle charging costs automatically or manually.

What is a Charge Point Operator (CPO)?

A Charge Point Operator (CPO) is a company that manages and operates charging points for electric cars. The CPO takes care of the installation, maintenance, management and support of the charging points, for private and business customers.

A CPO service at the employee's home

If you charge at home, a CPO service lets you settle those charging costs as business costs. You charge your car at your own home, and the costs are settled with your employer. This is how it works:

1. A charging point at home. If you want to charge your electric or hybrid car at home, you have a charging point installed. The charging costs at that point can be settled with your employer.
2. Settling your charging sessions. When you charge at home, the charging point records the session and links it to your account with the CPO. The charging card you use counts: you settle the card for your company car with your employer, but not the one for your private car.
3. Invoicing and payment. Based on your sessions, the CPO sends an invoice to your employer. The costs are calculated using the energy rate you entered with the CPO service. You receive a credit note for the energy costs of your sessions.
4. Overview and reporting. You and your employer can both use the CPO's overview. You track your sessions and check the costs; your employer sees the energy use and costs of the home charging sessions.

One charging station that can communicate with a CPO service is the Zaptec Go 2.

A CPO service at a business location

A big advantage of a CPO service at your business location: you can earn from other people's charging sessions, such as suppliers and visitors. The CPO service provider charges a fee per session and pays it out to you. You set your own kWh rate. The exact rate and split depend on your agreement with the CPO service provider.

What is an (e)MSP?

An (e)MSP (Electric Mobility Service Provider) offers charging subscriptions, charging cards and apps. With their charging card you can use public charging points. You often pay a small fee for it, per month, per kWh or per session. So compare the rates and conditions carefully, so you don't pay more than you need to.

Settling costs with a charging card

Does your employer give you a charging card? You use it at the charging station at the office, but also at public charging points your employer did not install. This is how it works:

1. At the office. Your employer gives you a charging card linked to your account with a CPO or (e)MSP. You use it to charge at work and at public charging points.
2. Roaming. Many CPOs and (e)MSPs offer roaming. Your charging card then also works at public charging points in their network, so also beyond your employer's charging points.
3. Starting a session. You hold your charging card against the reader or follow the instructions on the charging point. Your card identifies you as an authorised user and the session starts.
4. Invoicing and settlement. The CPO or (e)MSP records the session and invoices the costs to your employer. Ask your employer how they have set up the settlement.
5. Overview and administration. You and your employer can often use the overview of the CPO or (e)MSP. You track your sessions; your employer sees the charging costs and energy use.

Settling costs without a subscription: with a MID kWh meter

Want to keep track of your home charging costs yourself and claim them from your employer, for example every month? Then you need a kWh meter. It has to be MID-certified (MID stands for Measuring Instruments Directive). The MID mark guarantees that the number of kWh recorded may be used for official registration and settlement.

Some people deliberately choose to settle manually, because they want insight into their own usage. If you don't use a charging card or an automated system, manual settlement is the way to go. Handy: some charging stations have a MID-certified meter built in, such as the Zaptec Go 2 MID. Then you don't need a separate kWh meter.

Note: if you settle your charging costs manually, a MID-certified kWh meter is required.

Conclusion

Settling business charging costs can be done in several ways and benefits both employee and employer. A CPO takes care of installing and managing charging points at home or at your business location, so you settle the costs with your employer. An (e)MSP gives you access to public charging points with a charging card or app. Prefer to settle yourself? Then use a MID-certified kWh meter. Choose the way that suits you and your employer.

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