Purchasing a charging station for your electric car? Maybe you've already done some research and are familiar with the different models and brands on the market. But did you know that some charging stations have something extra: the MID certificate.

What is a MID certificate?

MID stands for Measuring Instruments Directive. It is a  European guideline  which ensures that measuring instruments used for commercial purposes are accurate and reliable. Thus, it also describes the rules for kWh meters. 

• Correct billing: a MID-certified meter ensures accurate billing of electricity consumed. This is crucial for both the charging station owner and the user. In fact, incorrect readings can lead to billing and refund issues.
  

• Reliability: of course, it is important that your charging station is reliable. With a MID certificate, you can be confident that the charging station always measures the correct charging speeds and kWh consumption. This way, you can always monitor energy consumption properly.
  

How do you recognize a MID-certified charging station?

It's easy to check if a charging station is MID-certified. Look for the MID logo on the housing or in the manual of the charging station. In addition, you can check the charging station manufacturer's website to see if it has MID certification. 

When do you need a charging station with an MID meter?

A charging station with MID certification is not always necessary. To determine whether you need one depends on your personal situation: 

• As an employer, do you want to monitor the consumption of the charging stations your employees use, and they do not use a charging card?
  Then a MID meter is needed to monitor and collect the consumption of the charging station.

• As an owner of public charging stations, do you want to monitor the kWh consumption per charging station?
  Then you need a MID meter in the charging station.

• Do you/your employees use a charge card?
  Then you don't need a MID meter. The charge card records all consumption per employee that you can view online.

• Do you want to see the consumption of your charging station for your own administrative reasons? 
  Then a MID meter is not necessary, but it can be useful to see how much power you consume while charging your car.

Tips for choosing the right charging station

In addition to checking for a MID meter, there are a few other factors to consider when choosing a charging station. These include: 

• Charging power: how much power do you need to charge your EV? This usually depends on the type of car you have. With a hybrid, the charging power will be lower than with a full electric car. 

• RFID reader: with the RFID reader, you have the ability to  use Charge@Public charging cards.

• Additional features: wifi connection, color screen, integration with other systems,...

Charging posts with a MID meter

Still looking for a charging station that allows you to monitor energy consumption? We've already picked three for you.
The entire range of charging stations installed with a MID meter can be found here.