Plug and Charge is a way to start a public charging session with no card, app or membership tap at all. The car identifies itself to the charger through the charging cable, using a secure digital certificate, and the session is billed to an account you linked to the car beforehand. You plug in, charging starts, and payment happens in the background.
Key Takeaways
- Plug and Charge identifies the car, not the driver: no card, app or tap at the station.
- It is based on the ISO 15118 standard and needs support from both the car and the charger.
- You still need an account and linked payment method, set up once in advance.
- It changes convenience, not charging speed or price.
How It Works, Step by Step
- One-time setup. You enrol the car with a charging account or the carmaker’s app and link a payment method. The car receives a digital certificate.
- Plug in. The car and charger exchange certificates through the cable before any power flows.
- Charging starts. The charger recognises the car, checks the account, and begins the session without you touching a screen or card reader.
- Automatic billing. When you unplug, the session cost is charged to your linked payment method and a receipt appears in your account.
The technology behind it is the ISO 15118 standard, which defines how cars and chargers exchange this identification data. Both the car and the charger must support it, which is why availability still varies.
Four Ways to Start a Session, Compared
| Method | What identifies you | What you need first |
|---|---|---|
| Contactless card | Your bank card at the reader | Nothing — pay as you go |
| App | Your account in the operator’s app | App installed, account and payment set up |
| RFID card or fob | A card linked to your account | Card ordered and registered in advance |
| Plug and Charge | The car itself, via its certificate | One-time enrolment of the car and a linked payment method |
If you are new to the older methods, our walkthrough of how to use a public EV charger and our explainer on RFID cards for EV charging cover them in detail.
What It Is Not
Plug and Charge is not free charging, and it does not remove the need for an account — it moves the account check from the station screen into the car. It also does not change charging speed; it only removes steps at the start of a session. And it is not yet universal. Federal NEVI rules require funded corridor stations to accept contactless card payment with no membership, so a card always works there; Plug and Charge is an extra convenience offered on top, where the car and the network both support it.
How Site Hardware Fits In
Automatic sessions still depend on the charger talking to a billing platform. Networked EVDANCE stations such as the EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station and the EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC fast charger use the open OCPP 1.6J protocol with RFID authorisation, so operators can run accounts, cards and apps on standard platforms today. As cars with Plug and Charge certificates become common, that same platform connection is what lets a site add automatic identification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my car support Plug and Charge?
Check the carmaker’s app or manual for ISO 15118 or Plug and Charge support, and check whether the networks you use have enabled it. Support is model- and network-specific, and it is still rolling out.
Is Plug and Charge the same as charging at a Tesla-style Supercharger?
The experience is similar — plug in and walk away — but the mechanism differs. Plug and Charge is an open standard any carmaker and network can adopt, rather than one closed network recognising only its own cars.
Can I still pay by card if I prefer?
Yes. Plug and Charge is optional. Stations that offer it still provide their normal payment options, and NEVI-funded stations must accept contactless cards with no membership required.
Related Reading
- How to Use a Public EV Charger (and How to Stop It)
- Do EV Charging Stations Take Credit Cards?
- What Is an RFID Card for EV Charging?
- How to Use a DC Fast Charger: Step by Step
