How to use an EV charging station in Türkiye: step by step for your first charge
If you are charging at a public station for the first time, you need three things: the right connector, the network's app or card, and a registered payment method. The rest is four steps.
By: Şarj Rehberim · Updated: · 6 min read
Before you set off: app, account, payment
Almost every public charging point in Türkiye belongs to a charging network, and the charge is started with that network's app or card. Before you reach the station, download the app of the network you will use, sign up and add a credit card or wallet. Sign-up and card approval can take a few minutes at the charger, and may not complete at all in car parks with no mobile signal.
You can see which networks are near you on the map. The network pages list each network's number of points and its fastest stations.
Choose the right connector: AC or DC?
AC connectors (Type 2) are for slow and medium-speed charging; they usually deliver 7–22 kW and at most of them you bring the cable. That is what the Type 2 cable supplied with the car is for. DC connectors (CCS2, CHAdeMO on some older cars) are for fast charging; they deliver 50 kW or more and the cable is fixed to the station.
If you pick your car's connector type in the map filter, only the points you can use remain. For the differences between connectors, see the connector types guide.
How to start charging
- 1. Park in the charging bay and open the car's charging flap.
- 2. Plug the cable into the car first, then (on AC) into the station. On DC, plug the station's fixed cable straight into the car.
- 3. Scan the station's QR code in the app or choose the station code; if you use a card, hold it to the reader on the unit.
- 4. Choose the connector and start charging. The light or screen on the unit and the counter in the app show that charging has started.
How to finish
Stop the charge in the app or by tapping the card again. Then unlock the car; in most cars the cable lock does not release while charging. Unplug the cable and hang the station's cable back in place.
The amount appears in the app and in your e-mail when charging ends. In Türkiye you pay for the energy delivered (kWh); you can compare current tariffs network by network on the prices page.
Is it worth waiting after 80% on DC?
On DC fast charging, the car lowers the power it draws as the battery fills. In most cars the speed drops markedly after 80%; the last 20% can take as long as the first 60%. On a long trip, leaving at 80% and charging again at the next stop is usually faster.
Some networks may charge a per-minute fee to cars that stay connected after charging has finished. Check the tariff in the app and move the car when charging ends.
Which network's app do you need?
In most cases you need the app of the network whose station you are at. The ZES, Trugo and Eşarj apps can also start charging at partner networks' stations; the reverse is not true — for example ZES and Eşarj cards do not work at other networks' stations. The practical answer: install the apps of the 2–3 networks with the most points in your area in advance.
The table below summarises what the 10 largest networks by number of stations say on their own websites and app store pages. Cells where we found no clear statement in an official source are left as "—"; that does not mean the feature is missing.
| Network | App | Own charging card (RFID) | Pay without installing the app | Charge at other networks with the app |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZES | Zes-EV Station Network | Yes (Zes Card, free) | No — app or Zes Card required | Yes |
| Trugo | Trugo | — | — | Yes |
| Eşarj | Eşarj Mobile | Yes (Eşarj Card) | No — app sign-up required first | Yes |
| Voltrun | Voltrun | — | — | — |
| OtoPriz | Otopriz | Yes (Otopriz Card) | — | — |
| Epsis | EPSIS | — | — | — |
| Powerşarj | Powerşarj | Yes (Powerşarj card) | No — app account or card required | — |
| Otojet | OTOJET | — | — | — |
| En Yakıt | EnYakıt | No — the en-ix system starts charging when the connector is plugged in | No — the credit card is registered in the app | — |
| Neva Şarj | NEVA ŞARJ | — | — | — |
Sources (as of 6 October 2026): ZES FAQ · Trugo FAQ · Trugo app · Eşarj FAQ · Voltrun (App Store) · OtoPriz membership · Epsis · Powerşarj help · Otojet (App Store) · En Yakıt charging service · Neva Şarj FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Can I pay directly by credit card at a charging station?
- Usually not at the big networks. The credit card is registered in the network's app and charging is started from the app or with the network's RFID card. The official pages of the 10 large networks we reviewed do not mention paying without the app.
- Do I need to bring my own cable?
- At most AC (Type 2) connectors, yes; you use the Type 2 cable supplied with the car. On DC fast charging the cable is fixed to the station, so you do not need one.
- Can I leave the car while it is charging?
- Yes. The cable stays locked while charging and you can follow the counter in the app. Move the car when charging ends; some networks charge extra for cars left connected.
- Can I charge at another network's station with my own app?
- With some networks, yes: the ZES, Trugo and Eşarj apps can start charging at partner networks' stations. Networks' RFID cards usually work only at their own stations.