An initiative by a consortium of electric vehicle manufacturers (SAE International) alongside the Biden administration aims to roll out a universal EV charging protocol called “Plug & Charge” by 2025.
The proposal seeks to eliminate one of the main barriers faced by EV drivers: the hyper-fragmentation of the charging system.
Currently, EV owners must register with various apps and payment systems to access charging infrastructure.
The idea is that all electric vehicles (EVs) can connect to any public charger without the vehicle owner needing to take any additional steps.
The protocol promotes a cloud-based system that automates various payment systems, allowing EV owners to simply plug in their cars and begin charging.
The initiative also includes a certified trust list to enable secure and automated authentication from the moment the vehicle is plugged in.
“You just go wherever you want, plug in your car, everything is processed in the cloud, charged to your card, and you’re on your way,” says Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Biden Administration’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, as reported by the specialist site The Verge.
The “Plug & Charge” concept is based on the ISO 15118 standard, a global standard for EV charging that enables automatic charging and payment as soon as the car is plugged in.
While the technology is available in several models, it has not been universally adopted.
In cars equipped with Plug & Charge, the charger securely communicates with the vehicle and bills the owner without requiring app registration or additional billing information.
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