The current state of electric vehicle (EV) charging has long been a source of frustration for many drivers. The need to sign up for multiple apps, input payment details, and navigate complex interfaces every time you want to charge your car has been a major barrier to EV adoption. But a new universal solution, set to launch in 2025, aims to eliminate these obstacles once and for all. A collaboration between the Biden administration, SAE International, and a consortium of automakers and charging operators has led to the creation of a universal “Plug and Charge” framework, promising a seamless and hassle-free charging experience for all EV owners.
The key idea behind this framework is simple: when you need to charge your car, you just plug it in, and everything happens automatically. No more fumbling with apps, fobs, or payment details. The charging station will communicate directly with the vehicle to authenticate the session, process the payment, and begin charging—all without any extra steps from the driver.
“This is a security solution for EV charging,” explained Tim Weisenberger, project manager for emerging technologies standards at SAE International. He emphasized that the goal is to make EV charging as easy and intuitive as possible, essentially eliminating the friction that currently exists in the process.
The Technology Behind Plug & Charge
The foundation for this new approach lies in the ISO 15118 standard, also known as Plug & Charge. This international standard enables vehicles and chargers to communicate securely as soon as the car is plugged in, allowing for automatic billing and authentication without the need for an app or additional sign-up process.
While the technology is already available in some vehicles, it has not yet been widely adopted. Tesla has been a pioneer in this area, offering the Plug & Charge feature across its Supercharger network since the beginning. However, Tesla’s model is somewhat unique, as it operates both the vehicles and the charging stations. Other automakers have yet to fully embrace the technology due to the complexities involved in integrating their vehicles with different charging networks.
The Road to Universal Adoption
The goal of the new framework is to make Plug & Charge a universal standard across all electric vehicles and public charging stations. This means that EV owners will be able to plug into any public charger, regardless of the station’s operator or the make of the vehicle, and have the system automatically recognize and authenticate the car, then bill the driver securely.
For this vision to become a reality, automakers will need to work together to ensure that their vehicles are compatible with the new universal protocol. In some cases, this will involve making individual deals with charging operators to integrate their systems. But the end result will be a more efficient, user-friendly EV charging ecosystem, helping to overcome one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption today.
As Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, succinctly put it, “You just go anywhere you want, boom, you plug in, it accounts for everything in the cloud, charges your card, and you walk away.” This development marks a major step toward simplifying EV ownership and making charging as easy as refueling a gasoline car.
With the rollout of universal Plug & Charge in 2025, the days of dealing with multiple apps, payment methods, and authorization steps could soon be over, making the EV experience more streamlined and accessible for everyone.