Plug & Charge

Charge safely, quickly & easily.

What is Plug & Charge?

Plug & Charge is an additional feature that significantly simplifies the authentication process when charging e-vehicles. At all charging stations where Plug & Charge is activated, an RFID card or app is no longer required to start a charging session.

Instead, vehicles exchange certificates with the charging station directly when the charging cable is plugged in and only in compliance with strict security precautions. The charging station forwards all identification-relevant information to the backend of the charging infrastructure.

What are the advantages of Plug & Charge?

Plug & Charge technology enables secure, fast and easy charging of e-vehicles at compatible charging stations.

Secure: The communication between vehicle & charging station is secure from external access due to encryption according to ISO 15118 standard.
Fast: The authorization process starts immediately when the vehicle is plugged into the station, no apps or RFID cards are required.
Easy: All authorisation-relevant information is stored in the vehicle and is automatically transmitted when it is plugged in.

How the Plug & Charge process works

Vehicle connection

Data extraction

Transmission to backend

Start of charging session

Billing of charging session

How the Plug & Charge process works

Step 1: The vehicle is connected to the charging point and communication starts automatically.

Step 2: From the data transmitted by the vehicle, the charging station decrypts all information relevant for authentication

Step 3: The data from the charging station is transmitted to the backend for authorisation and activation of the charging point.

Step 4: After positive authorisation feedback from the backend, the charging session begins. The entire authorisation process takes only a few seconds.

Step 5: After charging, users are provided with their billing information, as with any other charging process.

Step 1: The vehicle is connected to the charging point and communication starts automatically.

Step 2: From the data transmitted by the vehicle, the charging station decrypts all information relevant for authentication

Step 3: The data from the charging station is transmitted to the backend for authorisation and activation of the charging point.

Step 4: After positive authorisation feedback from the backend, the charging session begins. The entire authorisation process takes only a few seconds.

Step 5: After charging, users are provided with their billing information, as with any other charging process.

SMATRICS makes charging easy

From the second half of 2024 onwards, SMATRICS will enable the activation of Plug & Charge at all charging stations operated by SMATRICS that enable this form of authentication and are already productive according to the Hubject ecosystem.

SMATRICS is thus expanding its comprehensive product portfolio consisting of software, hardware and services along the entire e-mobile value chain. Whether as full service solution or as a modular individual service - SMATRICS enables custom e-mobility solutions.

In regards to Plug & Charge, SMATRICS takes care of the provision and permanent updating of the necessary validation certificates. This also includes the handling of all authentication-relevant information, which must be transmitted to the respective EMP accordingly.

Certificate services: Provision & permanent updating of validity certificates for e-vehicles, charging tariffs & charging infrastructure.
Data transmission: All authentication-relevant information is transmitted to the respective EMP.
Infrastructure: Includes charging stations operated by SMATRICS that are compatible with PnC and productive according to Hubject ecosystem.
Timeline: From second half of 2024 onwards, SMATRICS customers will be able to use the Plug & Charge (PnC) feature.

You would like to use Plug & Charge?

SMATRICS is happy to support you as an experienced & reliable partner in the implementation. Get in touch:

How does Plug & Charge work exactly?

At its core, Plug & Charge uses the ISO 15118 standard to establish a secure communication channel between the electric vehicle and the charging infrastructure. This allows the electric vehicle and the charging station to seamlessly exchange encrypted information such as authentication certificates and payment information. The technology is based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) protocols that ensure a high level of security.

When an electric vehicle equipped with Plug & Charge is connected to a compatible charging station, the vehicle and station perform a so-called cryptographic handshake. This verifies the identity of the vehicle and establishes a secure connection. After authentication, the charging process is automatically initiated and the power transfer begins. Physical charging cards or digital apps are no longer required.

Required compatibilities of Plug & Charge

The following actors must have PnC compatibility:

OEM: It must be possible to install the validation and charging tariff certificates on the respective e-vehicle.
EMP: Charging rate information, which is otherwise on other authorisation media, must be directly depositable on the vehicle.
CPO: The charging station must be able to decrypt the information transmitted by the vehicle and pass it on to the backend for authorisation.

Plug & Charge as a pioneer of sustainable mobility

Plug & Charge technology improves the user experience of e-mobilists by removing authentication barriers and simplifying the charging process. Plug & Charge is an excellent example of how advances in IT can improve the convenience and efficiency of electric vehicle charging and contribute to broader social acceptance of sustainable mobility solutions.