Charging electric cars has become easier with the introduction of the “Plug & Charge” (PnC) system, which offers encrypted authentication. However, the slow roll-out and squabbling between car manufacturers, charging rate providers, and infrastructure operators has caused significant initial difficulties. Additionally, few new cars are PnC-enabled, and car manufacturers are using their position to pre-install their own charging tariff without certificates from other providers.
Fastned, a Dutch charging network operator, has introduced a simple solution called Autocharge, which identifies cars by model and allows users to transfer the number to their billing app for future use. This simple solution has a clearly defined standard, is fair for all market roles, and does not require years of coordination rounds between parties. It works with most e-cars, and users simply select their vehicle model in the EnBW mobility+ app and activate one of the Autocharge-enabled charging stations.
Autocharge has a lower error rate than other methods and has the benefit of convenience, availability, and reliability with simple identification. Users can weigh the advantages of an encrypted authentication against the advantages of convenience, availability, and reliability with simple identification with Autocharge. The acceptance of the system is already high among Autocharge-capable cars with fast chargers.
As for security, while there is simple identification without encrypted authentication with Autocharge, the hurdles to fraudulently exploiting this circumstance are higher than with the RFID charging card. Users can inform the police in case of fraud, and the overall security risk of Autocharge is very low.
In conclusion, the most important thing for charging electric cars is voltage, and users want a convenient, reliable, and available charging network that works well with all cars, charging network operators, and tariffs. Whether this will work in the future via Autocharge, PnC or powerful magic spells makes no difference.
