Marie Alexander

“2025 EV Charging Revolution: Plug and Charge Protocol Unveiled”

Shortly, charging an electric vehicle will be as easy as plugging it in, thanks to a universal "Plug and Charge" protocol that will roll out in 2025. The effort, led by SAE International-a, a standards organization supported by automakers, charging operators, and the Biden administration to simplify the fragmented EV charging ecosystem, which is considered one of the biggest barriers to broad EV adoption.

Simplifying the Charging Experience
Today, owners of electric vehicles often have to navigate cumbersome processes to reach charging stations, such as juggling multiple apps, accounts, and payment systems. That will change with the new protocol: plug in your car, and the system sorts it out.

"You just go anywhere you want, plug in, and it accounts for everything in the cloud," said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

How Plug and Charge Works
The protocol is based on the ISO 15118 global standard for EV charging. It enables secure communication between a vehicle and a compatible charging station, facilitating automatic billing without apps or manual authorizations.

Tesla has already pioneered a similar system within its Supercharger network, seamlessly integrating charging into its ecosystem. However, this universal protocol aims to expand the concept across all automakers and third-party charging networks.

Key developments of the protocol include:

Certified Trust List: A security feature that will enable seamless authentication during charging.
Roaming Capabilities: Support for interoperability between several Public Key Infrastructures (PKIs), enhancing competition and user convenience.
A Unified Industry Effort
The initiative includes the involvement of major automobile companies like Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Rivian, Toyota, and BMW, along with charging networks like BP Pulse, ChargePoint, and Electrify America. It is also fully funded by the industry, in which $1.5 million has already been contributed.

"Everybody's working hard to make this work," said Tim Weisenberger, SAE International's project manager for emerging technologies.

More Than Just Charging
Beyond simplifying the charging process, the protocol opens the door to other advanced features such as bidirectional charging. This enables the EVs to return power to the grid and helps to stabilize energy supplies during peak demand, further improving energy resilience.

A Future-Ready Vision
Industry leaders express optimism in the protocol's longevity, whatever the political changes might be. As Klein said, "The ship has sailed, and market dynamics have taken over.

The universal Plug and Charge protocol addresses not only technical but also security challenges, thus representing one more important step toward general EV adoption and a greener, more sustainable future.