RFID authentication is the check that runs between the tap and the power flowing. The card presents an ID number; the system compares that number with the registered list and the account behind it. Only a pass starts the session and attaches the energy to that account. It verifies the credential, not the person holding it.
Key Takeaways
- The tap identifies the credential; authentication is the separate check against the registered list and the account.
- The check runs either on the charger’s own list or on the platform behind a networked charger.
- Registration, account status and revocation decide the result — a read card can still be refused.
- Offline behaviour is a platform configuration question, and a lost card works until it is removed from the list.
Identification Is Not Authentication
The tap itself is identification: the card announces which credential it is. The card holds no money and no permission of its own. Authentication is the decision that follows — whether this credential, on this charger, at this site, is currently allowed to charge. A card can be read perfectly and still be refused, because reading is only half the process. The cards themselves are covered in our explainer on what an RFID card for EV charging is.
Where the Check Happens
The decision is made in one of two places.
| Where the check runs | How it works | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| On the charger | The charger stores a list of accepted card IDs and checks the tap against it locally | Works with no network connection; the list is updated on the charger itself |
| On the platform | A networked charger sends the ID to its back-end platform, which checks the registered list and the account | One list controls many chargers and changes apply everywhere — but the check needs the connection |
Shared sites mostly use the platform route: one registered list governs every charger. Our guide to RFID and user management for shared chargers compares the two arrangements in more detail.
What the Check Looks At
Whatever runs the check, it answers the same short set of questions:
- Is this credential registered? The ID must exist on the list for that charger or network. A card from an unaffiliated network fails here.
- Is the account behind it active? The session is logged or billed to an account, which has to be in good standing on the platform.
- Has the credential been revoked? A card removed from the list — after a loss or a staff change — no longer authenticates, though the plastic is unchanged.
- Do the site’s rules allow this user here? Operators can group users in the platform, for example staff versus visitors. Which rules exist is set out in the platform’s documentation.
When the check fails, the charger refuses the session: the card was read, but authentication did not pass.
When the Charger Cannot Ask, and When a Card Is Lost
If a networked charger’s link to its platform is down, it may be unable to run the check at all. What happens then — refusing every tap, or accepting cards seen before — is a configuration matter, and the platform’s documentation governs it. Ask before a site depends on the answer.
A lost card makes the point: until it is removed from the list, it still authenticates. Security lives in the list, not the plastic — removal is the step that matters.
EVDANCE Chargers With RFID Authentication
Two EVDANCE units state RFID on their listings. The EV-ACT3204PE is a 22 kW three-phase wallbox with a tethered Type 2 cable, RFID and app control, and IP65/IP66. The EV-AC03201T is a floor-standing dual-connector AC station with two Type 2 connectors, up to 43 kW shared (22 kW per connector), OCPP 1.6J and RFID; its 7-inch screen is a display, not a payment terminal. Neither listing states a card limit or an enrolment procedure; those live in the unit’s manual and the operator’s platform, where the registered list is kept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the charger store my payment details on the card?
No. The card carries an ID number; billing or logging happens against the account it matches on the platform — where payment details, if any, are held.
Why was my RFID card read but the charge refused?
Reading and authenticating are separate steps. A refusal usually means the credential is not registered on that network or site, the account behind it is inactive, or the card has been removed from the list.
If I lose my card, can someone else charge with it?
Until it is removed from the registered list, it will still authenticate — the system checks the credential, not the person. Report the loss to the issuer so it can be revoked, as you would a bank card.
Related Reading
- What Is an RFID Card for EV Charging?
- RFID and User Management for Shared EV Chargers
- OCPP Explained: What Charge Point Operators Need From EV Charger Hardware
- How Do I Get an RFID Card for Electric Car Charging?
