Neither basis is right for every business. Charging by the kWh prices the energy a driver takes; charging by the hour prices the bay the car occupies, including the hours after charging has finished. For a business hosting Level 2 chargers, the deciding variable is dwell — how long cars stay versus how long they actually charge — and each basis stands on different metering and local rules, confirmed before launch.
Key Takeaways
- By the hour prices the bay, by the kWh prices the energy — the business is choosing what it sells.
- Dwell decides: the longer cars stay past full charge, the more the hourly basis does the overstay work on its own.
- Per-kWh billing needs accurate session metering and a written confirmation that your market permits billing by energy.
- The basis is a platform setting — it can be changed, with notice to drivers and a fresh rules check.
The Two Bases, Dimension by Dimension
| Dimension | By the hour | By the kWh |
|---|---|---|
| What the driver pays for | Time connected, whether power is flowing or the car is full | Energy delivered into the battery |
| Fairness across cars | A slow-charging car pays more for the same energy; the clock does not see charging speed | Same energy, same price, whatever the car’s speed |
| Effect on dwell | The running clock is its own overstay control — staying costs money | A finished car can sit free unless an overstay element is added |
| Metering it stands on | A clock and a session record | Accurate per-session energy metering, reported to the billing platform |
| Rules to confirm | Your market’s terms for time-based charging, in writing | Whether your market permits billing by energy at all, and the metering standard it requires — in writing |
| Revenue follows | Occupancy of the bay | Kilowatt-hours sold |
Flat session fees and bundled parking exist too, compared in our guide to how much charging stations charge. The hour-versus-kWh question comes first, because it decides what the site is really selling: energy, or the space.
Match the Basis to the Dwell
Level 2 charging runs at 7–19 kW in the U.S. DOT’s typical bands, so a car often finishes charging long before its driver returns. That gap is where the bases diverge:
- All-day dwell — workplaces, long-stay parking. Charging ends mid-visit. An hourly price keeps a charge on the bay for the whole stay and needs no separate overstay rule.
- Short, turning-over dwell — retail, leisure. Drivers come and go; energy delivered in a short stop is modest either way. Either basis can work; turnover goals argue for the clock.
- Overnight dwell — hospitality. The car is parked far longer than it charges, so hosts often treat charging as part of the stay rather than an energy sale — a policy choice to state clearly to guests.
The Finished-Car Problem
On a per-kWh tariff, the meter stops earning when the battery fills — but the bay stays occupied. Businesses solve this two ways: an hourly basis, where the price itself keeps running, or a per-kWh basis with an added overstay element after charging completes, set on the platform and shown to drivers before the session starts. Skipping the question leaves busy hours blocked by full cars. The metering behind either answer is covered in our explainer on smart meters for EV chargers.
Hardware That Carries Either Basis
The basis is a platform setting; the charger’s job is access, metering and reporting. The EV-ACT3204PE 22 kW wallbox — three-phase, tethered Type 2 cable, RFID and app, IP66, CE — identifies drivers and records sessions on the operator’s platform. The EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station states OCPP 1.6J and RFID, its touchscreen a display rather than a payment terminal. No EVDANCE listing states a billing platform — billing is the business’s own arrangement. Planning a priced site starts from our commercial EV charging range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business switch from hourly to per-kWh pricing later?
Yes — the basis is a platform configuration, not a hardware change. Announce the change to drivers in advance, and re-run the rules confirmation first: the metering and permission position for energy billing may differ from the one you launched under.
Is by-the-hour allowed where per-kWh billing is restricted?
Time-based billing has been used in some markets where selling electricity by measure was restricted, but rules vary and change. Hold a written confirmation of your market’s current position before launch, for either basis.
What about not charging drivers at all?
Free charging is a third option, chosen when the charging is an amenity that earns its keep elsewhere in the business. The costs still run — energy, demand and upkeep — as our guide to whether charging stations cost money sets out from the driver’s side.
Related Reading
- How Much Do EV Charging Stations Charge? Pricing Models Explained
- Do EV Charging Stations Cost Money? Free vs Paid Charging Explained
- Do You Need a Smart Meter for an EV Charger?
- Is an EV Charging Station Business Profitable?
