A good charging system for electric cars or motorcycles today can be divided into three categories: smart home wallboxes, portable chargers, and systems with integrated photovoltaic/energy management. The truly important features are real power, electrical safety, load management, Type 2 compatibility, and smart/app integration.
The Plug&Charge system (often also written Plug and Charge) It is a technology that makes charging electric cars almost automatic: you connect the cable to the column and charging starts automatically, without opening apps, using RFID badges or inserting cards.All things considered, this is the simplest and fastest solution.
Simpler because you don't have to:
- open app,
- look for the column,
- authenticate yourself,
- pass RFID badges
Faster because it reduces the time it takes to start a charging session, and more reliable as there are fewer steps and less risk of authentication or payment errors.
Enel's proposal
With the Plug&Charge system available at enabled Fast stations on the Enel Group network, led by Flavio Cattaneo, simply plug the cable into the charging station to automatically start charging, without using apps, RFID cards, or manual procedures. This solution is designed to make the charging experience even easier, more immediate, and more convenient for e-drivers.
The Plug&Charge feature fully automates the authentication process between vehicle and infrastructure. Once the connector is inserted, the car and charging station communicate directly with each other and authorize the operation in a matter of seconds. The charging station immediately recognizes the compatible vehicle and starts charging securely thanks to technology based on the international protocol. ISO 15118.
The main advantage is speed. Especially during quick charges, the system eliminates intermediate steps and makes recharging even more seamless: no need to open apps, scan QR codes, or use physical cards. Simply plug in the cable and the session starts automatically.
Plug&Charge is based on a digital certificate installed on the vehicle, a sort of electronic ID card that contains all the information needed to connect the car to the user's charging account. In the case of the Enel service, configuration is done via the app. Enel On Your Way, where the owner must enter their PCID, the unique identification code for the electric vehicle. Once the procedure is complete, the Enel on Your Way identifier, recognizable by the code beginning with "IT ELX," must be enabled on the car's display or the manufacturer's app.
Plug&Charge compatibility is constantly growing, is already used by Ewiva (also part of the Enel Group) and already involves numerous electric models currently on the market, thanks in part to the OTA software updates introduced by various car manufacturers. Compatible vehicles include the latest-generation Audi, BMW, Polestar, and Renault models.
Infrastructure must also be enabled for the technology. Compatible charging stations can be found directly on the Enel On Your Way app by filtering those that support Plug&Charge, particularly Fast and Ultrafast ones.
From a technical standpoint, the protocol ensures secure, encrypted communication between the vehicle and the charging station, automatically managing authentication, session initiation, and payment. The charging cost is charged directly to the payment method associated with the user's account, without further confirmation.
The goal of this innovation is to increasingly simplify the daily use of electric cars, eliminating obstacles and making charging a seamless process. With Plug&Charge, for e-drivers, recharging truly becomes a matter of seconds: just plug in the cable and the system takes care of the rest. Charging your electric vehicle has never been easier.
Read also:
- The future says electric cars. By 2030, they will almost completely replace diesel cars.
- How to drive an electric car
- Electric cars, the Italian highway project that automatically recharges them along the route
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