E-Ticket: prepaid card with unique features launched for public transport in and around Hamburg

Following Mainz and Berlin, Hamburg has likewise introduced its own prepaid payment system for public transport in the city and the surrounding area. Whilst the system in Mainz was already hopelessly outdated by the time it launched and Berlin's BVG prepaid card can't, for example, be used in the S-Bahn system (despite being technically a cash card), Hamburg's transport association (HVV) employs a modern, well-planned system that works across various modes of transport.

You'll notice this starting from the point of sale: the prepaid card can be purchased at ticket machines. This is a pretty common way of buying e-tickets elsewhere in the world. In Germany, however, implementing such a system is so challenging for transport associations that, as far as we know, no major company has dared to issue e-tickets from vending machines, making this new system in Hamburg something special and noteworthy. But, to be fair, you can already get e-tickets from machines in a city like Münster.

It is also particularly important that tickets are readily available in light of the looming discontinuation of cash payment in HVV buses. HVV is taking a two-pronged approach when it comes to e-ticket machines. Responding to our questions, HVV said that they are going to retrofit existing machines as well as purchase new ones.

Berlin's public transport company (BVG) had to reintroduce cash payment. Their prepaid cards were actually meant only for Berlin's residents. As a result, tourists had to do some research to find out how to buy a prepaid card and were left wondering why their card wasn't accepted on every mode of public transport (e.g. at the airport). BVG acting alone within the association has backfired on them.

No more cash payment on buses soon

Issuing e-tickets at vending machines has allowed HVV to at least soften the impact of ending cash payment on buses. From late 2023, cash will no longer be accepted on buses operated by VHH and Hochbahn, two of the largest transport companies in the Hamburg metropolitan region. But the metro system (run by Hochbahn) is not affected by this new rule. Prepaid cards are available for purchase at all metro stations – you can use cash to buy the cards as well. There are also various staffed sales points. Furthermore, HVV promises that you'll be able to top up the prepaid cards everywhere they are sold.

The prepaid card itself doesn't cost anything, but you'll have to top up at least €5 (around US$5.50). A maximum of €150 (US$165) can be stored on the card. It is completely anonymous and not personalised, meaning you can hand it over another person or share it within your family. The "hvv Card Info" app also lets you check how much value is on a card without using any of the system's physical infrastructure.

Although buses now accept contactless payment with the HVV Prepaid Card, we are disappointed that it is a closed-loop system. In other words, contactless EMV cards and cards added to Google Pay or Apple Pay can't be used on buses, as HVV stated in their reply.

What's more, you still can't use the HVV Prepaid Card on every single mode of public transport. It is accepted on buses operated by Hochbahn, VHH, KViP and RMVB right now. In metro stations, the card also works on those modern ticket machines equipped with a large display. There are plans to expand the payment system to cover S-Bahn, Metronom and regional trains.

Technological foundation in the backend: eTicket Deutschland

Early on, there were speculations online that the HVV Prepaid Card is based on eTicket Deutschland, an electronic ticketing system for public transport that is also known as VDV KA. HVV has stated this is indeed true to a certain extent. 

"The hvv Prepaid Card is the first time we have implemented account-based ticketing. In our case, this means that tickets purchased using the hvv Prepaid Card are not stored on the card itself but rather in the backend. An account is created in the backend for every card issued, and e-tickets in the backend are based on the VDV KA structure."

This is very unusual in Germany, especially considering the cards are explicitly not eTicket Deutschland cards. Though HVV also issues eTicket Deutschland cards. And its DeutschlandTicket (subscription ticket for bus and rail valid throughout Germany) also utilises VDV KA.

Some smaller transport associations, such as the one serving the Lake Constance region and Upper Swabia, make use of similar concepts. However, their eTicket Deutschland cards are linked to bank accounts and also can be used to buy single tickets.

Some people might remember that HVV has experimented with single tickets before through their HVV Card. But these products have meanwhile been discontinued. In a way, the HVV Prepaid Card can be considered a successor that doesn't require a bank account.

Account-based ticketing with DeutschlandTicket perhaps?

Interestingly, HVV said they are also looking into combining the ticketing process with DeutschlandTicket. If this happens, you may be able to store multiple funds on a single DeutschlandTicket, which could then, for instance, be used for upgrading to first-class seats or booking other special tickets.

Preparations are already in the works. The plug has been pulled on seldom used HVV Card products in order to reduce complexity. According to HVV, you'll also be able to link the prepaid card to your meinhvv profile if everything goes to plan.

HVV wasn't able to tell us what technology is behind the prepaid card. Though Notebookcheck owns a DeutschlandTicket for the HVV region, it is currently being used in Berlin. It is safe to assume that HVV isn't using SmartMX chips made by NXP, especially because these chips are hard to come by right now due to the DeutschlandTicket. Based on information obtained by Notebookcheck, cards featuring these chips are not only expensive but also some of the slowest card systems in the field of smart tickets – especially when compared with Japan's IC systems (Okica, Suica, Pasmo, etc.).  

Decent smart ticket system in Germany

All this goes to show that HVV has put a lot of thoughts into the launch of the prepaid card and also designed it with other use cases in mind (e.g. as a visitor's pass). But one drawback remains: it spells the end of cash payment on buses. In any case, those without any bank card – which can be surprisingly expensive, especially for less well-off people – can still purchase bus tickets with the new system.

Notebookcheck admittedly isn't familiar with each and every transport association in Germany and their e-ticket systems (of which there are many). But based on information available, HVV is likely the first amongst the major associations to have a system that can keep pace with international standards.

That said, Hamburg is late to the party despite being a trailblazer in Germany. For instance, the Oyster system in London turned 20 in June this year. A limited edition Oyster card was launched to celebrate the anniversary. HVV said that they have no plans to release similar special edition cards in Hamburg, but at any rate, the infrastructure is already there.