Image: BMW Group PressClub

[ULM, GERMANY] – April 16, 2026 – Hellgate, a leading provider of advanced payment infrastructure for the mobility sector, is proud to announce its central role in the launch of Plug&Charge Direct. In partnership with automotive OEMs and the EV-Charging industry, Hellgate is connecting the dots between the automotive, EV charging, and financial services industries to deliver a seamless, contract-free charging experience for electric vehicle drivers.

Plug&Charge Direct, recently announced by BMW Group and Hubject, fundamentally transforms the public charging experience by turning the vehicle itself into a credit card. Drivers simply save their credit card information once via the My BMW or MINI app. From then on, they can pull up to any compatible charging station, plug in their vehicle, and walk away. Authentication and payment are processed automatically in the background, eliminating the need for physical RFID cards, charging apps, or scanning QR codes.

Behind the scenes of this effortless customer journey is Hellgate’s robust, highly secure payment architecture. As the infrastructure partner bridging these distinct ecosystems, Hellgate provides:

• Secure PCI DSS Card Vaulting: Ensuring the highest global security standards for storing sensitive financial data when users register their credit cards in OEM or CPO apps.

• Advanced Network Tokenization: Converting credit card details into secure digital tokens that are mapped directly to the vehicle's authentication credentials, ensuring safe and seamless transactions at the charge point without exposing raw card data.

• Cross-Industry Orchestration: Seamlessly connecting the financial ecosystem with the complex technical requirements of the EV charging industry (CPOs/eMSPs) and automotive OEMs.

“We are incredibly proud to operate the payment infrastructure for Plug&Charge Direct and to bring the different worlds together,” said Jens Kohnen, Co-Founder of Hellgate. “By providing secure network tokenization and bridging the gap between automotive, charging, and financial services, we are helping to eliminate one of the biggest friction points in e-mobility. Making charging as simple as 'plug in and go' with direct payments is a massive milestone for the entire industry.”

While BMW Group is the first automaker to go live with this feature, and Mer the first Charge Point Operator in Germany and Austria, Plug&Charge Direct is designed as an open ecosystem. Hellgate’s scalable payment infrastructure is ready to support the wider adoption of this technology, inviting more CPOs, eMSPs, and automotive manufacturers to join the network.

By solving the complex payment routing and security challenges inherent in cross-industry transactions, Hellgate is empowering the EV charging industry to offer higher conversion rates, fewer failed charging sessions, and a vastly improved user experience.

For more information on how Hellgate is revolutionizing mobility payments, visit https://hellgate.io.

About Hellgate

Hellgate specializes in next-generation payment infrastructure for the mobility and automotive sectors. By offering secure PCI DSS card vaulting, network tokenization, and seamless ecosystem orchestration, Hellgate connects automakers, charging networks, and financial institutions to create frictionless payment experiences.

Media Contact:
Jens Kohnen
jens.kohnen@hellgate.io
https://hellgate.io