California Air Resources Board

As part of the 2022 EVSE Standards Technology Review, CARB staff found that more work is needed to determine how quickly contactless payment technology, sometimes referred to as tap-to-pay, is advancing and getting into the hands of drivers who need to access public charging infrastructure. Further evaluation of barriers regarding charging access for lower-income and un- and under-banked residents is also needed.

CARB partnered with Cal-ITP and their contractor Rebel Group to monitor the credit and debit card issuance market and learn what payment methods drivers with varying income levels have access to and prefer to use. Cal-ITP evaluated consumer access to Euro Mastercard Visa (EMV) and contactless payments by conducting a global and United States market review on payment technology development and market penetration. Cal-ITP assessed payment methods for lower-income and un- and under-banked drivers, including availability, understanding, and use of contactless payment options and identified access barriers drivers incur. The following three reports are the culmination of that work.