Universal EV plugs and charging capabilities are coming

A new framework has been built to enable electric vehicle owners to charge and pay seamlessly at any charging station

The early days of electrification are not for the faint of heart, with three competing standards, limited charging infrastructure, and a hodgepodge of proprietary apps and accounts. Things have changed dramatically since those dark days, as the industry has coalesced around North American charging standards and plug-and-play technology has become more common.

The latter is now being strengthened, described by the government as a “shining example of public-private partnership”. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the SAE Electric Vehicle Public Key Infrastructure Alliance have announced a new common framework for universal plug-and-charge capabilities.

More: General Motors’ plug-and-charge technology aims to make charging as easy as possible

This promises to be a game changer as “vehicles, chargers and charging networks will all be able to communicate with each other for the first time, pushing the industry towards a universal solution so that every driver can plug in and start charging at any public charging station” in the future. “

This will make charging more convenient, as some vehicles only support plug-and-play functionality at certain partner charging stations. So if you stop at an unsupported charging station, you’ll have to jump through hoops to start the charging process.

As the government explains, the new framework allows for seamless payment processing, meaning drivers don’t have to use multiple apps or payment methods. Users can also expect greater security and convenience as well as the possibility of “transformative innovation.”

The Joint Office for Energy and Transport did not elaborate on the latter, but mentioned vehicle-to-grid integration and bidirectional energy flow. While there’s not much to say, it’s not hard to read between the lines and imagine a future where utility companies might use this framework to pay you for the energy you get from your vehicle.

“We are rapidly moving toward a future where every electric vehicle driver can simply plug in, charge and go; this network will be connected to Your car talks and payments are processed seamlessly. This is a fundamental step towards enabling bi-directional charging and true vehicle-to-grid integration, which is the holy grail of energy and transportation.”

H/T to Edmonds