“Clever Tanken” develops “Clever Laden” into a charging platform

Image: infoRoad GmbH, Clever Tanken | Michael Reichel

Those who charge their electric cars in public often have to switch between different charging apps, cards, and plans. The service “Clever Tanken” addresses this issue by developing the “Clever Laden” app section as a charging platform. Through cooperation with Berlin-based startup Cariqa, users can search for publicly available ad-hoc charging stations, compare prices across providers, and start and pay for charging sessions directly within the app.

With the API-based payment solution Cariqa Connect, Clever Laden gains access to the direct prices of connected charging station operators. Previously, price information relied on various available sources and user reports. A comprehensive overview was difficult to achieve because ad-hoc prices were not centrally recorded, and many operators did not provide their rates systematically. After selecting a charging column, users also had to initiate and complete the charging process through the payment system at the station or via another app.

Through Cariqa, operators could go forward to set their prices directly in Clever Laden, rather than offering them solely through traditional roaming networks. Markup by intermediaries would be eliminated, allowing operators to control their pricing themselves, claims Clever Tanken. “In addition, smaller providers will also gain greater visibility for their charging infrastructure.” The company’s officials emphasize that they pass on the operators’ prices unchanged.

Charging station operators can use things like day and night rates or smart pricing, where prices are set hourly based on the expected demand at a station. Discounts may apply during off-peak times, while surcharges can be implemented during peak hours. Prices are determined up to a week in advance, regardless of the model, allowing electric vehicle drivers to see them in the app and plan their charging around cheaper timeslots.

"When developing Cariqa, we had a goal: charging and paying for electric vehicles needs to work much more simply, transparently, and fairly," says co-founder Tamara Ciullo. "Instead of just creating another charging app, we wanted to transform the underlying infrastructure of the market and enable charging station operators to sell their energy directly to drivers. That’s exactly what we can now achieve through our partnership with Clever Tanken."

"We see great potential in making the market for public charging of electric vehicles more transparent and fair," explains Steffen Bock, founder and CEO of Clever Tanken. "With the integration of 'Cariqa Connect,' 'Clever Laden' is evolving from a simple comparison platform into a central hub for finding, comparing prices, initiating, and paying for public ad-hoc charging sessions."

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and finance industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

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