Plug and Charge: what does this feature consist of?
To make the electric car even simpler and more attractive, manufacturers are integrating cutting-edge technologies such as V2G or more recently, “Plug & Charge”. The aim of this innovative system? Automate charging at a public station without going through the authentication stage. All you need to know
Plug and Charge: how does it work?
Filling up with fuel is tedious: you have to insert your credit card, get a receipt and sometimes pay at the counter. For an electric car, recharging your battery at a public charging station is faster: all you have to do is identify yourself via a mobile application or a badge and, in some cases, validate your payment method. What if the recharge became yet easier?
With Plug and Charge, the electric car is automatically identified by the terminal. The process consists of two steps:
- First step
When the charging cable is plugged in, secure communication is established between the electric vehicle and the terminal. Customer account details are sent by the car to the charging station, in the same way as with a badge or a mobile application. Advantage: the process only takes a few seconds!
- Second stage
Once the information has been received by the station, the charging process starts automatically. No need to go through an authentication procedure, or even use your smartphone, bank card or recharge card. One step less, for an even easier recharge!
The Plug and Charge protocol provides a better charging experience and saves valuable time. This service is free and complies with the international standard ISO 15118. In particular, the latter guarantees that the payment process is secure and that the stored data is protected against any attempt of manipulation by third parties.
How can I benefit from Plug & Charge technology?
To function, the system Plug and Charge requires that the electric vehicle and the charging station are both compatible. Faced with the interest of this technology, more and more new vehicles are equipped with it.
Do you already own an electric car? Consult its manual to find out if it includes this feature. It is possible that the Plug & Charge service is already automatically activated. If not, a remote update may be required. Everything depends on your vehicle: if in doubt, contact your manufacturer.
To take advantage of the Plug and Charge function, it is necessary to be previously registered for the service. The process is simple: register your vehicle in the charging application, choose the price offer of your choice and validate your payment method. Once this step has been completed, the Plug and Charge function is activated in your vehicle: all that's left is to find compatible charging stations!
Good to know : it is possible to deactivate this function at any time.
How do you pay for the recharge?
Once the electric vehicle battery is charged, payment is automatically authorized. The cost of charging is calculated based on the pricing conditions of your package and the charging operator. Invoices are drawn up monthly.
Which terminals are compatible with Plug and Charge?
Many fast charging stations integrate the Plug and Charge function in France and Europe. This is particularly the case with the Ionity, Fastned and Aral public charging networks. To charge your vehicle using this feature, all you need is an account on the brand's application.
In a company or in a condominium: you want to install a compatible charging station with the Plug & Charge standard ? Our smart and connected charging stations Qovoltis are equipped with the latest technologies such as V2G or Plug and Charge!
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