The future of electric vehicle (EV) charging is becoming more streamlined with the introduction of a universal solution for Plug & Charge functionality.
SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (ITC), in collaboration with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, announced a common EV Public Key Infrastructure (EVPKI) framework that will enable secure automatic authentication when drivers plug in at public charging stations.
This development eliminates the need for proprietary systems, creating a more seamless and efficient charging experience.
The new framework allows vehicles, chargers, and charging networks to communicate securely, fostering true interoperability across the EV charging ecosystem. Once implemented, drivers will benefit from faster, automated charging without requiring apps or payment processing steps and improved cybersecurity for the entire infrastructure.
Additionally, the solution opens the door for future innovations, such as vehicle-grid integration (VGI) technologies, enabling bidirectional energy flows and advanced grid services.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward standardizing the EV charging experience, ensuring that drivers can charge any EV at any public station with ease while enhancing security and reliability across the ecosystem.
In summary, once the SAE EVPKI solution is implemented, EV drivers will benefit with:
- Faster, automated charging with any public station and any car. Charging and payment processing happens seamlessly – no more using multiple apps or payment methods. This means reduced time to charge overall, and a more reliable charging experience. This works because the Certificate Trust List (CTL) developed by the SAE EVPKI Consortium enables secure, automated authentication at the onset of the charging transaction.
- Improved cybersecurity protocols for the entire EV charging ecosystem. This means security is built in from the start.
- Opportunities to use the transformative innovations that Plug & Charge enables. For example, Plug & Charge lays the foundation for vehicle-grid integration (VGI) technologies, which will enable bidirectional energy flows, advanced grid services, and more resilient energy ecosystems.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News