BMW To Integrate “Credit Card” Feature On Its EVs

The BMW Group has introduced the revolutionary Plug-Charge-Pay service, which turns an electric car into a credit card. From March 2026, drivers in Germany can plug their BMW or MINI into a public DC charger and start charging immediately – without apps, cards or contracts. The system uses the credit card linked to the user account, and authentication is done automatically as soon as the vehicle is connected.

The charging price is calculated according to the current “ad hoc” tariff determined by the charging station operator. That price is displayed directly in the vehicle and in the app, giving drivers complete control over costs. Payment goes through a registered credit card, without additional steps.

Easy activation

The service is set up through the Plug & Charge menu in the my BMW or my MINI app. The process takes only a few minutes, after which the charging becomes fully automated. The service must also be available to users without a contract – tourists, drivers of official vehicles or those who temporarily use a BMW or MINI account.

The service was launched in cooperation with Mer Germany, which enabled more than 1,400 chargers in Germany and Austria. The technological basis is provided by the Hubject Plug&Charge ecosystem, and expansion to additional operators and markets is planned during 2026.

BMW is a pioneer of simple e-mobility

With this move, BMW clearly shows that it wants to make electric mobility simple, transparent and suitable for everyday use. Plug-Charge-Pay is a step towards making electric vehicle charging as intuitive as paying in a store.

With this move, BMW solved one of the biggest obstacles to the wider use of electric vehicles – complicated public charging. The elimination of cards and apps means drivers can finally count on an experience that’s fast and stress-free. Transparent billing further strengthens user trust, while opening the service to tourists and drivers without a contract shows the strategic breadth of BMW’s vision.

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