The way we pay for mobility is changing rapidly. Public transport and shared mobility are increasingly using digital and contactless payment methods, making travel easier and more efficient. While OVpay and contactless payment with a bank card are already a major breakthrough for public transport, the challenge lies with shared mobility and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). Three fundamental problems play a role here that make innovation in the payments landscape necessary.
Public Transport: OVpay and the Bank Card Solution
For public transport, the innovation is clearly visible: OVpay has largely made the use of a separate OV chip card superfluous. This system makes it possible to check in and out with a contactless bank card, smartphone or smartwatch. The big advantage is that users don’t need to top up a separate balance or need a separate card.
Why does this work well for public transport?
- Ease of use → No hassle with individual tickets or topping up balance.
- Intermediate party (Translink) that adds value:
- Accumulation of trips → one debit transaction follows for all trips in a day, thus limiting bank charges per trip
- If there is no balance, block that bank card for public transport
OVpay shows that direct debit card payments are a simple and efficient way to pay for mobility. But outside of public transport, paying is becoming more complex.
The Bottlenecks in Shared Mobility and MaaS
Shared mobility, such as shared cars, scooters and bicycles, and MaaS platforms (where different transport services are combined in one app), face three major problems in the payment system:
- The amount is only known after the ride → no incentive to pay
With a shared bicycle or shared car, the user only knows how much he has to pay afterwards. This creates the risk that the customer does not have a direct incentive to make the payment. For example, if a trip takes longer than expected, the total amount may be higher than expected, which can lead to payment problems or even refusal to pay.
- Wallets are unwanted → money is tied up
A commonly used solution is a wallet system, where the user deposits funds into an account in advance. However, this is not popular with consumers, because the money is tied up within one platform. For example, if a user deposits €20 into a MaaS wallet but only uses €5, the remaining balance will remain unattractive and unused. Additionally, users are not willing to pay upfront for services they have not yet used.
- SEPA Direct Debits can be reversed for 60 days → too risky
Another option, SEPA Direct Debit, involves major risks. Users can reverse a direct debit for up to 60 days without reason. This means that a trip of a shared car or scooter can only be reversed by the user weeks later, which creates major financial risks for the providers and intermediaries such as MaaS platforms. This makes debt collection unacceptable for the sector.
The Best Solutions for Shared Mobility and MaaS
To solve the above problems, two major innovations are needed in the payment landscape for shared mobility and MaaS.
1. Pay directly via the ‘card rails’
The most efficient system would be if shared mobility works directly via contactless debit or credit card, just like OVpay. This would mean that the user scans his bank card at the start of the trip and is automatically charged at the end of the trip.
Why is this good?
✔ No intermediary needed → no wallets, no collection risk.
✔ Direct payment → the user can not “forget” to pay.
✔ Easier to scale → bank cards are already integrated into payment systems worldwide.
However, this requires that the card payment infrastructure (the so-called “card rails” of Visa/Mastercard) is properly equipped for pay-per-use mobility.
2. Pay via tokenized bank card in apps or iDEAL 2.0 / Wero
Another solution is to use tokenized payment methods within apps, such as:
- A digital debit card in an app (similar to how Apple Pay works, but integrated into a MaaS platform).
- iDEAL 2.0 or Wero as a cheaper alternative to credit cards.
A payment authorization is executed when the trip starts, after which the exact costs are only settled at the end of the trip. This offers the convenience of direct debit without the reversal risk of SEPA Direct Debit. Advantages of iDEAL 2.0 / Wero for shared mobility:
✔ Cheaper than credit card payments.
✔ No risk of reversals.
✔ Instant payment possible, without wallets.
Conclusion
While OVpay and bank card payments are already revolutionizing public transport, shared mobility and MaaS platforms have yet to take an important step. The biggest challenge is a flexible payment model that only pays the exact amount afterwards, without the risk of reversal or locked wallets. The solution lies in:
- Pay directly with the bank card for shared mobility, just like OVpay.
- Tokenized bank cards in apps, or
- iDEAL 2.0 or Wero as a cheaper alternative to the card rails
With these innovations, paying for mobility can become as seamless as travel itself. The future is contactless, instant and without financial risks for providers.
Projective Group is partner of Toekomst van het Betalingsverkeer
More information about this topic? On March 27, 2025, Dirk Jan de Haan will be holding a session about Flexibile payments solution in modern mobility, at Toekomst van het Betalingsverkeer. Visit the website for more information and tickets.
