Yes Google is charging for the use of their maps
Google has changed how they manage websites that use their maps, they want every website to have a billing account with them and yes they want you to pay.
They are giving a complimentary Maps API volume of Map requests every month. And it is unlikely that any of our client’s websites will get above this volume of Map requests. If you have turned on Maps on your OSL website then we will have already set up your account against your google project. Don’t worry you will not be charged anything without us contacting you first. If we do receive notification that your OSL website is using more than the free allocation of google maps we will contact you to discuss want you want to do.