The Flexible transaction scenario for EV charging enables an efficient and customer- and merchant-friendly solution for EV charging transactions. The transaction amount is calculated based on the amount of time or number of kilowatts (kW) used during the EV charging session. This transaction scenario has implementation prerequisites. For more information, see Prerequisites for the Flexible Transaction Scenario.

The Flexible transaction scenario offers these features and benefits:

A key features of the Flexible transaction scenario is the

dynamic adjustment capability

. When the EV charging session costs more than the initially estimated amount, an incremental authorization request is sent to obtain the additional transaction amount. A merchant can send multiple incremental authorization requests during the charging sessions to increase the charging transaction amount. When the final cost of the charging session, including incremental authorizations, is less than the estimated amount, an automatic, host-generated partial reversal request is sent at the time of capture.

The Flexible transaction workflow for EV charging typically consists of this sequence of events:

The customer presents a payment method to start a charging session at an EV charging station.
The charging session transaction amount is calculated using the amount of time spent charging or number of kW chosen.
The authorization request is sent to the issuing bank.
The issuing bank approves the transaction and sends an authorization response. A temporary hold for the authorized amount is placed on the customer's payment method.
The EV charging session starts.
The final transaction amount is calculated by the EV charging payment system based on the charging time or kW consumed. When the transaction amount is more than the initially authorized amount, an incremental authorization is sent to the issuing bank for the difference between the two amounts.
The issuing bank approves incremental authorization request, when applies.
The EV charging session ends when the battery is fully charged or when the customer manually stops the charging session.
A capture request for the final transaction amount is sent to the issuing bank. When the final cost of the charging session, including any incremental authorizations, is less than the estimated amount, an automatic, host-generated partial reversal request is sent at the time of capture.