At a charging station with automatic billing, the consumption of electricity during the charging of an electric vehicle is automatically measured and billed to the vehicle's owner. This process usually occurs via a back-end system that collects the consumption data, processes it, and handles the payments. Here is a general explanation of how it works:

1. Identification: To start the charging process, the user must identify themselves. This can be done through various methods, such as a charging card, a smartphone app, or an RFID tag. By identifying themselves, the back-end system can link the correct user data and payment information to the charging process.

2. Consumption Measurement: While the vehicle is being charged, the charging station continuously measures the electricity consumption. It records the amount of energy consumed and the duration of the charging process. This data is then sent to the back-end system for processing.

3. Data Communication: The charging station communicates with the back-end system to transmit the consumption data. This can occur via a wired connection, a wireless network (such as Wi-Fi or mobile data), or a combination thereof. The back-end system receives the data and stores it for further processing.

4. Billing: Based on the consumption data, the back-end system calculates the costs for charging. This can be done in various ways, for example, based on a tariff per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or a fixed rate per session. The system links the costs to the correct user accounts and generates payment information.

5. Payment: The back-end system handles the payments, usually via a pre-set payment method, such as a credit card or direct debit. The system can generate invoices regularly or process real-time payments, depending on the settings and preferences of the user.

6. User Information and Reporting: The back-end system also stores user information, such as consumption history, invoices, and payment details. Users can often access an online portal or a mobile app to view their consumption and payment information.

Charging stations with automatic billing offer convenience and transparency because users do not need to perform separate actions for payments. Everything is automatically handled based on actual consumption. The back-end system ensures accurate billing and simplifies the management of charging costs for both the charging station owner and electric vehicle users.