Motorists traveling on Italian highways can now more easily pay for electric vehicle (EV) charging directly at the pump, thanks to an expansion of point-of-sale (POS) system availability. Free To X, a major high-power charging network operator and subsidiary of Autostrade per l’Italia, has activated card payment options at six key stations along the A1 and A26 autostrade.
The newly equipped stations include Arda Est and Arda Ovest on the A1, each featuring three and four high-power charging columns (HPC) respectively. On the A26, Stura Est and Stura Ovest, located between Genoa and Ovada, now offer four HPC columns. Secchia Est and Secchia Ovest on the A1 near Modena Nord have been upgraded with four HPC columns each.
The move reflects a broader trend toward simplified payment methods for EV charging in Italy. Free To X stated that all new charging installations will include POS functionality, allowing drivers to pay with debit, credit, or prepaid cards. This eliminates the necessitate for dedicated charging cards or mobile applications, streamlining the refueling process for electric vehicles.
This expansion coincides with ongoing infrastructure projects by other companies, such as E.On, which is installing 104 ultrafast charging points at 18 service areas along the A4 (Turin-Trieste) and A14 (Bologna-Taranto) highways. E.On’s project, slated for completion by the end of 2026, pending authorization and grid connection, will feature stations designed as energy hubs, combining ultrafast charging with renewable energy sources and on-site storage. Each station will house between four and eight Alpitronic HYC400 columns, capable of delivering up to 400 kW of power.
The Free To X network currently boasts over 100 high-power charging stations across Italy, including locations at Milan Linate Airport and along the Autostrada network. The company reports that, as of an unspecified date, electric vehicles have traveled a combined 270,217,290 kilometers using its network, resulting in the avoidance of 46,587 tons of CO2 emissions since 2021.
Details on specific connector types available at the upgraded stations vary. The Free To X location in Occimiano, on the A26, offers CCS connectors with outputs up to 300 kW, as well as CHAdeMO at 50 kW and Type 2 at 22 kW. The Occimiano station also has multiple CCS connectors operating at 64kW.
