Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
SAE, the organization that sets standards for the auto industry in the US — its standards are often adopted by other nations as well — is making a determined effort to create a universal plug and charge system that will become the new standard in America. Plug and charge means electric car drivers need do nothing more than connect their cars to a properly configured charger. After that, every aspect of the charging experience, including payment, happens seamlessly in the background. No credit card to swipe, no charging network authentication process to work through, and no standing in the pouring rain trying to read the customer service phone number on the charger you want to use. Sweet!
In a press release on December 4, 2024, SAE said the future of electric vehicle charging is about to get simpler soon. The new plug and charge protocols it is proposing will allow drivers to plug in any car at any public charging station and automatically start charging with no payment processing step required. Thanks to a public-private partnership between SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (ITC), its Electric Vehicle Public Key Infrastructure (EVPKI) Consortium, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, soon a common EVPKI framework will make possible secure automatic authentication as soon as drivers plug in — a capability known as “Plug & Charge.”
Tesla drivers already know how such a system works. They set up their account with Tesla, which is linked to a credit card. Once the charging cable is inserted into the car’s charging port, a “digital handshake” takes place, the mainframe at the Tesla mothership identifies the car by its VIN number, and bills the charging session to the credit card on file when the session ends. The only thing it doesn’t do is wash the windshield and check the tires.
Plug & Charge Is A Big Step Forward
Until now, SAE says, the EV charging experience has been fragmented, with automakers and charging networks using proprietary authentication and authorization solutions and sometimes offering features like Plug & Charge within their network. Today’s development means vehicles, chargers, and charging networks all will be able to talk to each other for the first time, advancing the industry toward a universal solution so every driver can plug in and start charging at any public station in the future.
The industry-led SAE EVPKI solution is a watershed moment in the advancement of EVs, SAE says. The new framework creates a common security solution that will enable vehicles, chargers, and charging networks to securely communicate with each other, achieving true interoperability across the entire charging ecosystem. Once the SAE EVPKI solution is implemented, EV drivers will benefit from faster and automated charging at any public station and with any car. Charging and payment processing will happen seamlessly, with no need to use multiple apps or payment methods.
The benefit for drivers is reduced time-to-charge overall and a more reliable charging experience. What enables the plug and charge process is the Certificate Trust List (CTL) developed by the SAE EVPKI Consortium which enables secure, automated authentication at the onset of the charging transaction. Improved cybersecurity protocols for the entire EV charging ecosystem are built in from the start. Plug and charge lays the foundation for vehicle-to-grid integration (V2G) technologies which will enable bidirectional energy flows, advanced grid services, and more resilient energy ecosystems.
“Today’s announcement focuses the industry on interoperability and security, with the SAE EVPKI platform providing the crucial connecting layer,” said Sarah Hipel, acting Chief Technology Officer, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “This common platform enables innovation while supporting future advances in vehicle-grid integration and vehicle to everything communications.”
The Certificate Trust List
The SAE EVPKI Certificate Trust List Requirements is the basis for bringing industry PKI suppliers to the new framework. PKI suppliers can then review and develop the CTL and apply to be an EVPKI compliant PKI root. Throughout 2025, the industry will continue to move toward the universal Plug & Charge model, which will include:
- A secure process to exchange technology among vendors
- PKI user onboarding and testing
- A new competitive EV Sector PKI supply market
“Our mission is centered on interoperability, scalability and flexibility in EV Charging,” said Tim Weisenberger, SAE EVPKI Director. “The public release of the SAE EVPKI with its Certified Trust List provides a critical message security solution for universal Plug & Charge functionality – marking a major advancement in the electric mobility ecosystem. We thank our diverse, global industry members for their agile development approach, and look forward to making electric mobility easier and more effective for consumers,” Weisenberger added. “We anticipate an operational EVPKI solution in 2025 and an open, competitive PKI supplier marketplace to enable economical and secure charging at scale.”
“Universal Plug & Charge levels up the electric fueling experience — making it even easier than filling up with gas,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “We are rapidly approaching a future where every EV driver can just plug in, charge up, and go. The network will talk to your car and process the payment seamlessly. This is a fundamental step in architecture toward enabling bi-directional charging and true vehicle to grid integration, the Holy Grail for energy and transportation.” EVPKI Consortium members span the EV charging ecosystem, including leading global automakers, EV charger manufacturers, charge point operators, eMobility service providers, and PKI suppliers.
The Takeaway
Is this big news? Yeah, it kinda is. Fear of the unknown keeps a lot of people from trying new technology, especially when anti-social media feeds so much misinformation and disinformation to people. Anything that helps address those fears and makes people more comfortable with a new idea is welcome news. We have all heard horror stories from EV drivers about being stuck out in East Overshoe with a battery that is down to a 5% state of charge and a charger that refuses to connect until we close our eyes and recite the Ohio State fight song while standing on one foot. Why would anyone want to sign up for that sort of anxiety-inducing experience?
There are so many myths about electric cars, many of them false (I still have neighbors who are shocked I can drive my Tesla in the rain). It is great news that SAE and its partners are taking important steps forward to remove one of the major areas of concern. Plug and charge — such a simple idea but so difficult to do. It can’t get here soon enough.
Chip in a few dollars a month to help support independent cleantech coverage that helps to accelerate the cleantech revolution!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for 15 new cleantech stories a day. Or sign up for our weekly one if daily is too frequent.
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
CleanTechnica’s Comment Policy
