Autel Energy is rolling out a major upgrade to its EV charging portfolio in the United States, adding built-in credit card payment readers across its lineup. The company says approximately 100,000 chargers deployed across North America and Europe are slated to receive embedded payment technology by the end of 2026, marking a large-scale push toward simpler, app-free charging.
First Step: Payment-Ready MaxiCharger AC Single
The initial launch centers on a new US configuration of Autel’s MaxiCharger AC Single, a Level 2 charger that now integrates Nayax’s Uno Mini payment device directly at the factory. With the reader built in, drivers can tap, dip, or swipe a credit card at the charger—no app, account, or registration required.
Autel positions the update as particularly relevant for destination, workplace, hospitality, fleet, and multifamily residential sites, where payment friction can still discourage EV drivers and complicate charger utilization.
The rollout builds on Autel’s partnership with Nayax, first announced in August 2025, under which Nayax’s payment technology is planned for roughly 100,000 Autel chargers by late 2026.
Minimal Changes for Site Hosts
For operators, one of the key points is continuity. Autel says the payment-enabled MaxiCharger AC Single maintains the same enclosure, footprint, and core hardware as the existing model. That means no changes to mounting or site design, easing adoption for retrofits, mixed sites, and new construction.
On the hardware side, the charger continues to offer:
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Up to 19.2 kW (80A) adjustable output
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Dynamic load balancing for larger deployments
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Support for ISO 15118 Plug & Charge and AutoCharge
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OCPP 1.6J and 2.0.1 compatibility
Payment Options and Operations
With the integrated Uno Mini, chargers support contactless EMV, chip cards, and NFC wallets, alongside RFID and closed-loop payments for fleets and controlled-access locations. Autel says this enables faster monetization without adding external payment hardware.
From an operations standpoint, installation and commissioning remain unchanged from existing AC Single units. Operators can manage chargers through Autel’s digital platform for commissioning, remote monitoring, diagnostics, and digital twin-based operations and maintenance. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Wi-SUN.
Nayax’s Chief Strategy Officer, Aaron Greenberg, said embedding the Uno Mini delivers a turnkey, card-payment-ready charger designed for deployment at scale across North America. Autel Energy’s Chief Revenue Officer, Michelle Luo, emphasized that the integration adds payment capability without compromising openness or flexibility.
Availability and What’s Next
The payment-enabled MaxiCharger AC Single is now available through Autel’s distribution partners, resellers, and website. Autel also plans to showcase the charger at CES 2026, as it looks to scale AC charger shipments across the US throughout the year.
Perspective
From a neutral analytical standpoint, Autel’s move targets a long-standing friction point in public and semi-public EV charging: payment complexity. By embedding card readers at the factory—and keeping hardware unchanged for operators—the company lowers barriers to adoption while aligning with emerging regulatory and consumer expectations for simple, universal payment access. The real test will be execution at scale and uptime in diverse site environments, but if deployment proceeds as planned, embedded payments could meaningfully improve utilization for Level 2 charging in everyday locations.
