Choose the meter by the job its readings will do. If session energy will only be shown to the driver, a basic internal meter is enough. If drivers, tenants or fleet customers will be billed per kilowatt-hour, the charger needs a meter approved for billing in that market — in the European system, an MID-approved meter — with an accuracy class matched to the job, and a certificate you can file.
Key Takeaways
- Specify the meter for the job its readings will do — billing third parties sets the highest bar.
- MID is the EU approval framework for billing meters; other markets run their own, so confirm locally.
- Accuracy class is a stated, certified maximum error — get it in writing, matched to the job.
- EVDANCE pages publish no meter approval or class — both are written-confirmation items on a billing order.
Start With the Job the Meter Has to Do
Every charger counts energy; the question is how much trust the number must carry. Three jobs come up in specifications:
| Job for the readings | What the meter must be |
|---|---|
| Information only — session figures on a screen or in an app | A functional internal meter; accuracy is a quality point only |
| Cost allocation inside one organisation — fleets, staff reimbursement | A specified accuracy class and consistent records |
| Billing third parties per kWh — public charging, tenants, guests | A meter approved for billing use in that market, sealed as its approval requires |
The middle row is where projects go wrong: a charger bought for information quietly becomes the billing source a year later. If billing is even a possibility, specify for it at purchase — retrofitting an approved meter rarely works. The home side is covered in our guide to smart meters for EV chargers.
What MID and Accuracy Class Actually Mean
MID is the European Union’s Measuring Instruments Directive — the framework under which a meter design is examined and approved for billing use; its certificate names the exact model covered. Other markets run their own routes, so an EU approval does not travel: confirm locally, as for any mark in our EV charger certifications guide.
Accuracy class states the maximum error under reference conditions, as a percentage of energy measured: class 1 means up to about one percent, class 2 up to about two. MID classes for active energy run A, B and C, broadly following the IEC ladder of 2, 1 and 0.5. Tighter is not automatically better — the class must satisfy your market’s billing rules. What matters is that it is stated and certified — not an adjective in a brochure.
The Specification Points That Decide Billing Fitness
- Approval for the exact meter model. Ask for the certificate copy; check the model, the market covered and the conditions attached.
- Accuracy class, in writing. One line in the quotation, naming the class — not an adjective.
- Where the meter sits. Inside the charger, or a separate meter in the board? Both can work; approval and sealing differ.
- Sealing and recalibration. Billing meters are sealed against adjustment. Ask who may break the seal, and how recalibration works.
- The records produced. Start and end register readings per session, in a form billing can use — a disputed invoice stands on these records.
- What the label shows. The meter’s markings should match its certificate; our guide to rating labels and required markings shows what to check on delivery.
Specifying Meters on an EVDANCE Order
Billing questions arise on site equipment such as the EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station — two Type 2 connectors sharing up to 43 kW, OCPP 1.6J, RFID, session records to the operator’s platform — and the EV-ACT3204PE 22 kW wallbox, whose RFID and app keep per-session records. EVDANCE product pages publish no meter approval or accuracy class for these models, so both are written-confirmation items on any billing order: meter fitted, approval status for your market, class, certificate copy. Raise it through the OEM and private-label programme or contact us before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an MID meter required everywhere?
No. MID is the European framework; other markets approve billing meters through their own systems, and rules for reselling electricity by the kilowatt-hour differ again. Confirm with your market’s authority or certification body.
Does a tighter accuracy class change how the car charges?
No. The meter only measures; it does not control the session. A tighter class narrows the permitted error — it changes trust in the bill, not the charging.
Can the kWh figure in a charging app be billed from?
Only if the meter behind it is approved for billing in your market and the records meet local rules. An app display alone proves nothing — ask which meter produced the number.
Related Reading
- Do You Need a Smart Meter for an EV Charger?
- EV Charger Certifications Explained: CE, UKCA, UL, ETL, CB and What Buyers Should Ask For
- Rating Labels and Required Markings on EV Chargers
