Streamlining EV Charging With Plug & Charge

As more electric vehicles from disparate vehicle manufacturers hit the road, concerns over EV charging interoperability are growing.

Lynkwell and Hubject have partnered to advance Plug & Charge technology across North American EV charging networks. Plug & Charge is an EV charging protocol defined by the ISO 15118 standard, which is designed to simplify and automate the charging process for electric vehicles.

Plug & Charge simplifies EV charging. Image used courtesy of Lynkwell

What Is Plug & Charge?

The Plug & Charge system enables a smooth interaction between the vehicle and the charging station through secure, encrypted communication. When an EV is plugged into a compatible charger, the vehicle's onboard system automatically identifies itself to the charging station, which then verifies the vehicle's credentials through the automaker's backend infrastructure. Billing details linked to the user’s account are automatically processed, eliminating the need for manual authentication through cards or mobile apps.

Plug & Charge is important because it can standardize and streamline EV charging experiences like Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger network. Current charging infrastructure often requires users to manage multiple apps or prepaid accounts, leading to inefficiencies and inconvenience. By enabling a uniform and frictionless approach, Plug & Charge addresses interoperability challenges across different EV models and charging networks.

The system also integrates enhanced cybersecurity measures to reduce fraud risk associated with alternative payment methods like credit card readers, often cited as vulnerable to hacking.

Lynkwell and Hubject

Lynkwell and Hubject aim to push the adoption of Plug & Charge through their partnership.

Lynkwell, a U.S.-based energy infrastructure development company, specializes in EV software, hardware, and infrastructure solutions. According to the company, its cloud-based EV charging software platform ranks among the top 10 nationwide, hosts multiple charging networks, and manages approximately 10,000 assets. Specifically, Lynkwell's expertise lies in integrating renewable energy sources, battery storage, and microgrids with next-generation fueling technologies via their Lynkwell X‑Change platform.

Charger management platform. Image used courtesy of Lynkwell

Hubject, headquartered in Berlin, focuses on simplifying EV charging through its eRoaming platform. This platform connects charge point operators (CPOs), eMobility service providers (EMPs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), providing standardized access to a vast charging infrastructure. According to the company, Hubject's network encompasses over 1,000,000 charging points and more than 2,250 B2B partners across 63 countries and four continents.

Together, the companies will showcase their Plug & Charge solution at CharIN’s Testival event, where it will undergo validation with various OEMs.

Democratizing EV Charging

Over 2.6 million Plug & Charge-ready vehicles are currently on the market. Through their partnership, Lynkwell and Hubject hope to increase this number until every EV on the road is compatible with the technology.