Really simple outlets with builtin power monitors, cellular for management and billing, bluetooth for mesh connectivity between multiple units, and bluetooth for customer connectivity for activation. Cost ~$400 for a 240V unit.

https://www.orangecharger.com/product/orange-outlet-620

That doesn't sound very dumb, that sounds quite complicated. Bluetooth for customer connectivity? So I'll still need an app...

Well, it can't be completely dumb and still support billing. There are several competing factors here:

- They want to support billing - which requires network access, at least for the station itself

- They want to minimize the cost of the station both up front and maintenance. Fewer cables and accessories (eg, card readers) helps a lot here

- Much of their target audience is inside of parking garages where cell reception can be spotty. This means mesh is a must and bluetooth for client connectivity is best.

- They need to have power metering built-in and there are related regulatory concerns due to usage based billing

All of this means that it can't be a truly dumb device. What they've come up with is essentially the lowest cost solution that can possibly work.

If it can't truly be a dumb device, maybe you shouldn't be telling people its a "dumb" device.

Hey guys, this thing is "green". Well, we couldn't actually paint it green, so it's blue, but that's as close as we could get it!