The guide to EV charging cards and how they work with salary sacrifice

Most new EV drivers assume a charging card is just a payment method. It is that, but a good one also solves the bigger problem of navigating dozens of separate charging networks with one login and one bill. This guide covers what charging cards actually do and how they combine with salary sacrifice to reduce the cost as well as the hassle.

What an EV charging card is

An EV charging card is a physical RFID card, usually paired with an app, that authenticates you at a public charger and starts a charging session without needing cash, a separate app download, or a network account for every provider. Tap the card, plug in, and the session bills automatically.

There are two broad types:

• Single-network cards, issued by one charging operator and only usable on their own chargers
• Roaming cards, which work across many networks through a single account, using aggregation platforms like Plugsurfing behind the scenes

For anyone charging regularly away from home, a roaming card is almost always the better choice, because it removes the need to predict which network you will find on any given route.

What to look for in a charging card

• Network coverage. Look for cards that reach the vast majority of UK public chargers, ideally 70,000 or more, rather than a handful of regional networks.
• Transparent pricing. You should be able to see the cost per kWh before you start a session, not just after.
• A single combined bill. One statement covering home, work and public charging is far easier to manage than reconciling several receipts.
• No hidden subscription lock-in. Some cards charge monthly fees regardless of use; check whether that suits your charging pattern.

How a charging card fits with salary sacrifice

A charging card on its own only solves convenience, not cost. Salary sacrifice solves cost by letting the amount spent on charging come out of gross pay rather than take-home pay, so income tax and National Insurance are calculated on the lower figure.

The Charge Scheme combines both: employees get an app and charge card, powered by Plugsurfing, that works across 76,000+ public chargers as well as at home and at work, and every session, wherever it happens, is pulled into one monthly statement that goes through payroll as a gross deduction. There is no separate expense claim and no manual reconciliation.

The saving in practice

Tax band	Combined saving on charging spend
Basic rate	28%
Higher rate	42%
Additional rate	47%

A higher rate taxpayer spending £900 a year on public charging through the card would see that fall to around £522 once processed through salary sacrifice, a saving of roughly £378 a year, without changing how or where they charge.

How it works day to day

1. Charge as normal, at home, at work, or at any public charger the card and app cover
2. Sessions are logged automatically through the app
3. A monthly statement consolidates the cost across all locations
4. The gross deduction is applied through payroll, alongside any existing EV salary sacrifice deduction

This bolts on to any existing EV salary sacrifice or company car scheme, so switching lease provider is never required. Full mechanics are covered on our how it works page.

Who this is for

Employees who charge on the road regularly get the biggest benefit, since public rates are highest and therefore the sacrificed amount, and the saving, is largest. But the card and app work identically for employees who mostly charge at home, so there is no reason to run two separate systems.

Next steps

If your organisation already runs EV salary sacrifice through a lease provider and wants to add charging on top, book a demo to see how quickly it bolts on, or model the numbers yourself with our savings calculator.