In California, a controversial plan to require credit card readers on all public charging stations has generated a lot of pushback from the industry. Charging network operators, hardware manufacturers and other stakeholders say that installing and maintaining the readers would impose excessive costs on what is already a very low-margin business, and point out that, with the rise of new methods of payment such as smartphone apps, credit cards are beginning to look like yesterday’s technology.

Now we learn that a number of other states have imposed, or are considering imposing, similar requirements.

In Vermont, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development has implemented a requirement for credit card readers at DC fast charging projects that receive funding through the state’s Dieselgate settlement with Volkswagen. The application for a grant specifies that “The station has the capability to process a credit card through either a chip or swipe reader.”

In Nevada, the Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) has also implemented a requirement for credit card readers on all DC fast charging projects funded through the VW settlement.

Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), a nonprofit association of air quality agencies that represents 8 Northeastern states, is considering whether to issue a recommendation that all member states require credit card readers at publicly funded EV charging stations.

The latter effort appears to be at the proposal/recommendation stage at the moment, so there’s still time for interested parties to contact the relevant agencies and comment on the issue.

Editor’s note: This article originally stated that Vermont and Nevada were considering credit card reader requirements, and was amended when we were told that these requirements have now been implemented.

Sources: Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy, NESCAUM