Universal Plug & Charge Framework Enables Secure, Industry-Wide EV Charging

SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (ITC) and its Electric Vehicle Public Key Infrastructure (EVPKI) Consortium, along with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, announced a framework that will enable secure automatic authorization when drivers plug their EVs in with a capability called “Plug & Charge.” 

Soon, drivers can plug in any EV type at any public charging station and automatically begin charging without having to go through a payment processing step. The Certificate Trust List (CTL) developed by the AE EVPKI Consortium enables secure, automated authentication at the onset of a charging transaction. 

The EV charging experience has been fragmented for some time. Automakers and charging networks sometimes offer Plug & Charge features within their networks, but this new development means vehicles, chargers, and charging networks will all be able to communicate for the first time, advancing the industry toward a universal solution. 

Another benefit of the new technology is improved cybersecurity protocols for the entire EV charging ecosystem, as security is built in from the start. 

“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, in a statement. “This common platform enables innovation while supporting future advances in vehicle-grid integration and vehicle-to-everything communications.”  

Learn more here.