A smart meter is not necessary for the use of a charging station for electric vehicles (EV). A charging station is a device used to charge electric vehicles and does not have a direct connection to your energy consumption or your smart meter.

However, if you are interested in monitoring the energy consumption of your EV and managing its costs, using a smart meter can be useful. Some smart meters offer the ability to measure and monitor the consumption of specific devices, such as a charging station. This can help provide insight into how much energy you use to charge your EV and to identify potential savings.

Please note that the use of a smart meter is not mandatory for using a charging station. You can also simply purchase a charging station and track the costs in another way, such as through a separate meter or through your energy supplier's bills. However, if you are interested in monitoring your energy consumption and achieving savings, it might be worthwhile to consider purchasing a smart meter.