PlugandCharge

Plug and Charge is a feature of electric vehicle charging that enables automatic authentication, authorization, and billing when a vehicle is connected to a compatible charging point. It relies on the ISO 15118 standard, which defines the digital communication between electric vehicles and charging stations and supports vehicle-issued certificates to identify the user and vehicle.

When an EV is plugged in, the vehicle and the charger exchange secure digital certificates and establish a trusted session. The charging station recognizes the vehicle and retrieves the associated charging contract and payment details from the back-end system, allowing the charging process to begin without manual credentials or RFID cards. Billing is settled between the vehicle owner or operator and the charging network, often via the carmaker or the account linked to the vehicle.

Implementation requires compatible charging hardware, back-end provisioning, and a PKI infrastructure to manage the certificates. Plug and Charge is described within ISO 15118-2 and related specifications, and is supported by a growing number of automakers and charging networks. Adoption varies by market and charger availability; roaming and inter-network payments may still rely on supplementary solutions in some regions.

Advantages of Plug and Charge include a streamlined user experience and reduced transaction friction, since payment and identity occur automatically. Limitations include the need for universal certificate handling and back-end support, as well as privacy and security considerations, and dependence on interoperable infrastructure across manufacturers, networks, and charging points.