It's a technology that enables automatic authentication and payment for electric vehicle (EV) charging without the need for an RFID card or mobile app.
Here's how Plug and Charge works:
- EV and charging station communication: The EV and charging station communicate with each other using a secure digital certificate to establish a trusted connection.
- Authentication: The charging station uses the digital certificate to authenticate the EV and verify its identity.
- Payment: The EV and charging station negotiate the price and payment terms for the charging session, and the payment is processed automatically through the driver's preferred payment method, such as a credit card or account with the charging network.
- Charging: Once the payment has been authorized, the charging session begins automatically, without the need for the driver to initiate the session using an RFID card or mobile app.
Plug and Charge is designed to simplify the EV charging process and make it more convenient for drivers, while also providing a secure and reliable payment system for charging network operators. The technology is supported by several EV manufacturers and charging network operators, and is expected to become more widely available in the coming years as more EV models and charging stations support the technology.