LM Energy operates filling stations and charging infrastructure in several Austrian federal states. Felix Taxer is responsible for e-mobility in the family business and thus knows both worlds: classic refueling and public charging. In an interview with e-vo, he explains why uncomplicated payment is crucial for the acceptance of e-mobility and what experiences he has with direct payment.
Leikermoser comes from the classic petrol station business. What role does e-mobility play for the company today? What are your expansion plans?
Felix Taxer: For us, e-mobility is an important extension of the classic petrol station business. We want to offer people a reliable charging option where they are already on the road. That's why we are pushing ahead with expansion at high-traffic stations and in tourism areas. We want to expand locations with high capacity utilization in a targeted manner. Another focus is the integration of battery storage systems to relieve the grid connection and enable additional charging power at the site.
When refueling, card payment is a matter of course. Why is this simplicity also important to you when it comes to e-charging?
Felix Taxer: If you drive to a gas station, you usually don't have to register first or install a specific app to be able to pay. This should also be a matter of course for public shops. Especially people who only occasionally load or drive a route through an unknown region want to see the price in advance and pay with a familiar means of payment. The fewer hurdles between arrival and charging, the easier e-mobility becomes in everyday life.
How is the offer accepted by the customers? What differences do you see with regular customers, occasional loaders and travellers?
Felix Taxer: About one-fifth of our charging processes are handled by direct payment. Regular customers often use the offers that fit their regular charging needs. For occasional loaders and travellers, on the other hand, it is particularly important to be able to load spontaneously without having to deal with a new contract or app beforehand.
From the point of view of an operator, what does a direct payment solution have to do technically and during operation? What role does e-vo play in this?
Felix Taxer: A direct payment solution must above all be reliable and simple for customers at the charging station, but also for us during operation. Price, payment and charging must fit together clearly. In the meantime, we have switched all credit card terminals to the e-vo solution. We also see that direct payment works reliably in everyday life by the fact that, despite the many charging processes processed via it, only very few inquiries reach us about problems.
The European AFIR Regulation sets standards for ad hoc payment and price transparency. How do you assess these requirements from the point of view of a charging point operator? From your point of view, where is the payment process developing when loading?
Felix Taxer: Public charging must also be possible without prior registration, and the price must be visible before launch. We have therefore displayed our prices at the price poles from the beginning. If the implementation works well, both sides will benefit: Customers can charge more easily, and operators can provide a reliable charging experience. I believe that charging card and contract models remain important for regular use, while direct payment for spontaneous charging will become a matter of course. In the future, direct charge prices will increasingly vary with the SPOT market, making transparent pricing even more important.
LM Energy and E-Mobility
LM Energy is the brand of Salzburger Leikermoser Energiehandel GmbH and has been active in the energy sector for many years. In addition to the classic petrol station business, the company is constantly expanding its range of e-mobility services. Currently, there are 10 e-charging locations with a total of 39 charging points, including numerous fast charging points. For private customers, LM Energy offers public charging without a basic fee and contractual obligation. Corporate customers receive solutions for charging infrastructure, operation and billing as well as offers for fleets. This also includes the MobilityCard, with which charging and refuelling can be billed centrally. www.lm-energy.at
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