Short answer: the driver scans the QR code on the charger, picks a gun, and approves an amount in the UPI app already on their phone. That amount is only held in their bank account, not taken. When charging stops, only the cost of the units actually used is taken, and the rest is released on its own. There is no app to download, no wallet to top up and no refund to wait for. For the station owner, the money for each session is credited to their bank account the same day.
Why payment is the real problem at a charger
Ask any driver who has stood at a public charger what went wrong, and it is rarely the charger. It is the payment: a new app to download in a basement with no signal, a wallet that needs a minimum top-up, a balance stuck in an app they will never open again. Every one of those steps loses a driver. And for the owner, every lost driver is a session that never happened.
How UPI charging works, step by step
- Scan. The driver scans the QR code on the charger with their phone camera or any UPI app. A simple web page opens. Nothing is installed.
- Choose. They pick the gun and see the price per unit.
- Approve a hold. Their UPI app (GPay, PhonePe or any other) asks them to approve an amount, just like any UPI payment. The difference is that this amount is blocked in their own bank account, not paid to anyone yet.
- Charge. Charging starts. The page shows units and cost as the session runs.
- Pay only for what was used. When the car is full or the driver stops, only the cost of the units used is taken from the held amount. The rest is released back automatically.
- Get a receipt. The driver gets a receipt for the session, with GST.
Hold and capture: the part that makes it different
Most "pay first" systems take a fixed amount up front and refund the difference later. That sounds fine until you are the driver waiting days for ₹300 to come back, or the owner answering calls about it. With a hold, nothing is refunded because nothing extra was ever taken. The bank keeps the money in the driver's account until the session ends, then releases whatever was not used. It is the same idea a hotel uses when it blocks an amount on your card at check-in, done through UPI.
| Wallet app | Pay up front, refund later | UPI hold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| App to install | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Money left stuck somewhere | Wallet balance | Until the refund arrives | Never |
| Refunds to manage | Withdrawals | On most sessions | None |
| Driver pays exactly for units used | Yes | Eventually | Yes, at once |
What the station owner gets
- More completed sessions. Every driver in India already has UPI. Nobody walks away because of an app.
- Same-day money. Each session's payment is credited to the owner's own bank account the same day, not held by an operator for weeks.
- No refund desk. Because only what is used is ever taken, there are no part-refunds to process or explain.
- No app to run. No app store listing or app updates to maintain just so people can pay.
- Clean records. Every session, payment and receipt sits in the dashboard, with GST, ready for the accountant.
Regular customers who prefer an app still have one: the Zevpoint app, or an app under the owner's own brand. Fleets and staff can use RFID cards. UPI simply makes sure that the walk-in driver, who matters most at a public site, never needs anything they do not already have.
Questions drivers ask
"Is my money safe if the charger stops halfway?" Yes. Only the units actually delivered are charged. If no charging happened, nothing is taken and the hold is released.
"Why does my app show a blocked amount?" That is the hold. It stays in your account and is released as soon as the session is settled.
"Which UPI apps work?" The hold uses the standard UPI one-time mandate built by NPCI, supported by the major UPI apps such as GPay and PhonePe.
What we would not do
We would not put a public charger behind an app download or a wallet. We would not take a fixed amount and refund the difference later when a hold does the same job without a refund. And we would not let the station's money sit with an operator when it can reach the owner the same day. See how payments fit with the rest of the system on software and payments, or read why you may not need a franchise.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge an EV in India without an app?
Yes, at chargers that take UPI. Scan the QR code on the charger, approve the amount in any UPI app and charging starts. No app download is needed.
How does UPI payment at an EV charger work?
The driver approves a hold in their UPI app. The money stays blocked in their bank account during charging. At the end, only the cost of the units used is taken and the rest is released.
Do I get a refund if I use less than the amount I approved?
There is nothing to refund. The unused part of the hold was never taken, and it is released back to your account automatically when the session ends.
When does the charging station owner receive the money?
With UPI charging on our system, each session's payment is credited to the owner's bank account the same day.
What happens if charging fails after I pay?
Only delivered units are charged. If no charging happened, nothing is taken and the hold is released.
