Daily EV news · Global · 16 April 2026
EV Charging
BMW integrates credit card payment into vehicles for public charging
BMW Group has introduced a system that turns the car itself into a credit card for public charging, aiming to simplify payment at charging stations. The automaker describes the solution as fast, simple and transparent for drivers using public infrastructure. No specific rollout timeline or geographic scope was detailed in the available material.
Why it matters
Embedded payment systems can reduce friction at public charge points and may influence how charge point operators design user interfaces and back office integrations. Procurement teams evaluating hardware and software will need to ensure compatibility with vehicle to charger payment protocols as OEMs adopt similar approaches.
Policy & Market
Electric vehicles pass tipping point as battery costs fall 93 per cent since 2010
Battery pack costs have dropped from over 1,000 US dollars per kilowatt hour in 2010 to 108 US dollars by late 2025, driven by production scale and policy support. Global EV sales surpassed 17 million units in 2024, with electric cars now achieving lifetime cost parity with petrol vehicles across much of Europe and the lowest total cost of ownership in the used car market. A new discussion paper argues the economic case for EVs is now improving independently of oil prices, unlike previous surges that collapsed when external pressures eased.
Why it matters
The structural cost advantage means fleet operators and charging infrastructure investors can plan on sustained EV adoption rather than cyclical demand tied to fuel prices. Procurement teams can now model long term charging network expansion with confidence that the underlying economics will hold regardless of oil market volatility.