Short answer: Automatic authentication and payment when you plug in your cable, with no app, card, or screen interaction needed.
Explanation
Plug & Charge is the simplest possible charging experience: you plug in the cable and charging starts automatically. Your car identifies itself to the charger using a digital certificate stored in the vehicle, and payment is handled through your pre-registered account. No RFID card, no app, no QR code, no tapping a screen.
This technology is defined in the ISO 15118 standard, which handles the communication between your car and the charger. When both the car and the charger support ISO 15118 with Plug & Charge, the handshake happens in seconds. Tesla has offered a similar experience on Superchargers for years, and now other networks like Ionity, EnBW, and Fastned are rolling it out for non-Tesla vehicles.
Not all EVs and not all chargers support Plug & Charge yet. Your car needs to have ISO 15118 Plug & Charge capability (check with your manufacturer), and you need to enable it and link your payment method through the car's app or settings. Autocharge is a simpler version that identifies the car but may not handle payment automatically.
Where you'll see this
- On the charger screen
- In charging network apps
Common confusion
People confuse Plug & Charge with Autocharge. Plug & Charge (ISO 15118) uses encrypted digital certificates for secure identification and payment. Autocharge uses the car's MAC address for identification, which is simpler but less secure.
Example
A BMW iX with Plug & Charge enabled at Ionity: plug in the CCS2 cable, the car authenticates automatically, charging starts, and your Ionity account is billed when you unplug.
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