Autel Energy is upgrading its US EV charging lineup with built-in readers that accept credit card payments, and it’s not a small undertaking. The company says about 100,000 of its EV chargers across North America and Europe are slated to get embedded payment technology by the end of 2026.
The first step is a new US configuration of Autel’s MaxiCharger AC Single, which integrates the global fintech company Nayax’s Uno Mini payment device directly at the factory. That means drivers can tap, dip, or swipe a credit card right at the Level 2 charger, with no app, no account, and no registration required – a big deal for destination, workplace, hospitality, fleet, and multifamily residential sites where payment hassles can still put EV drivers off.
Autel says the launch builds on its partnership with Nayax, first announced in August 2025. Under that agreement, Nayax’s payment technology is slated to be embedded in about 100,000 Autel chargers planned for deployment across North America and Europe by the end of 2026.
Importantly for site hosts and operators, the payment-enabled MaxiCharger AC Single keeps the same look, footprint, and core hardware as the existing model. That means no changes to enclosures or mounting, and easier adoption across mixed sites, retrofits, and new construction projects.
On the hardware side, the charger continues to deliver adjustable output of up to 19.2 kW (80 amps) and supports smart dynamic load balancing for large deployments. It also supports ISO 15118 Plug & Charge and AutoCharge, along with OCPP 1.6J and 2.0.1.
The addition of the Nayax Uno Mini brings several payment options directly to the charger, including contactless EMV, chip card, and NFC wallet payments. It also supports app-free, registration-free public charging, plus RFID and closed-loop payments for fleet and controlled-access sites. For operators, this means faster monetization of charging assets without the need for additional hardware.
Aaron Greenberg, Nayax’s chief strategy officer, said, “By embedding the Nayax Uno Mini directly into the MaxiCharger platform, Autel is delivering a charger that is turnkey, card-payment ready, and designed for deployment at scale across North America.”
From an operations standpoint, Autel says the new configuration installs and commissions like existing AC Single units. Operators can use Autel’s digital platform for rapid commissioning, remote monitoring, diagnostics, and digital twin-based operations and maintenance. Connectivity options include wifi, Ethernet, and Wi‑SUN.
“This configuration brings payment capability directly into the AC Single platform without compromising the openness or flexibility that our customers rely on,” said Michelle Luo, Autel Energy’s chief revenue officer. “If we can make charging simpler, faster, and more intuitive, then we’re doing our job.”
Top comment by Nx
The funny part is that this could have all been avoided if charging networks would have collaborated on a single-authentication model.
They could have honored each other's accounts the same way you can use almost any credit union ATM with nearly every other credit union's accounts. Your car has a VIN, and can store your chosen billing authorization and communicate it when you plug in, and all charging networks could have negotiated an interchange of each other's accounts by simply plugging in.
Now the public demand has shifted so wildly in favor of credit card taps or swipes that it is going to be hard for charging networks to stay competitive without adding them. That is added monthly access overhead for each credit card machine, and per-purchase minimum transaction fees, and percent service fees.
This is literally the shot across the bow that they are running out of time to avoid what small gas stations found out. If you sell a product at let's say a 4% profit margin, and credit cards cost you 2% of a transaction, half of every dollar you make on that transaction goes to the credit card companies. (yea, that's how the math really works, as crazy as that is).
Gas stations make up for it by selling cigs, and expensive junk food. Charging stations that aren't located at convenience stores don't have that ability.
The MaxiCharger AC Single, featuring the integrated Nayax Uno Mini, is now available through Autel’s distribution partners, resellers, and on its website. Autel says the charger will also be on display at CES 2026 as the company looks to scale AC charger shipments across the US throughout 2026.
Electrek’s Take
Level 2 charging lives or dies on convenience, and the industry keeps relearning that lesson. App-only access, QR codes that don’t scan (this has happened to me, and it’s so annoying), and forced account creation (also annoying if it’s an obscure brand you won’t use again) are a fast way to turn chargers into expensive wall or pedestal decorations. Baking card payments directly into AC chargers, especially at scale, eliminates one of the main reasons for chargers sitting idle. If Autel rolls Nayax’s card readers out across 100,000 units, that’s a meaningful shift toward hassle-free Level 2 EV charging.
Read more: LAZ Parking plans EV chargers in 50,000 everyday parking spots
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