Ampol has added public EV charging to AmpolCard, allowing businesses to manage charging, petrol and diesel purchases through a single card and account.
The expansion provides access to all AmpCharge public charging sites across Australia, with unified billing, reporting and account management through the existing AmpolCard platform.
For businesses introducing electric vehicles, the change removes the need to establish a separate payment account to use AmpCharge public chargers. Drivers access charging using a physical RFID-enabled AmpolCard.
Ampol Executive General Manager, Commercial Fuels and Energy, Brent Merrick said the offering was designed to support fleets at different stages of electrification.
“As the adoption of electric vehicles continues to grow across commercial fleets, the expansion of AmpolCard to include EV charging is designed to support Australian businesses – whether they have already embraced EVs as a practical fleet solution or are contemplating transitioning,” Merrick said.
“By offering a simple, low-complexity integration with the current AmpolCard platform, our customers can continue to manage their energy needs, particularly with commercial fleets increasingly operating a mix of petrol, diesel and electric vehicles.”
For fleet managers, payment administration is another consideration alongside vehicle suitability and charging availability. Introducing EVs can create additional accounts, invoices and reconciliation tasks, particularly when drivers need public charging away from their usual depot or workplace.
Bringing AmpCharge transactions into AmpolCard gives businesses a way to incorporate public charging into an established fleet payment process. It also allows petrol, diesel and public charging expenditure made through the platform to be managed together as the fleet’s vehicle mix changes.
Public charging can support vehicles travelling beyond their regular operating area or needing an additional charge during the working day. Making payment straightforward helps fleet teams put practical arrangements in place before handing an EV to a driver.
The expansion follows Ampol’s announcement of its proposed acquisition of Evie Networks. Subject to ACCC clearance, that acquisition is expected to add more than 1,000 EV charging bays to Ampol’s network.
The AmpolCard announcement covers the AmpCharge public charging network; it does not establish AmpolCard access to Evie chargers.
For businesses planning their next stage of electrification, the development highlights the value of considering payment and reporting arrangements as part of the charging strategy. A suitable vehicle and accessible charger are essential, while a simple account process can make EVs easier to manage in everyday fleet operations.
