The Ionity charging station network will finally be equipped with one of the best features of the Tesla Supercharging network, Plug & Charge. Charging will become much easier for some drivers, but it will be necessary to have a compatible car.
As the name suggests, Plug & Charge simply consists of plugging in the cable so that charging begins automatically. With Plug & Charge, as soon as the charging cable is inserted into the vehicle, it is automatically identified by the charging station and authorized to be recharged.
In particular, this allows customers to charge their cars without the need for apps, cards or anything else for authentication and payment. Charging contracts are stored by the car and the terminal will authorize them before recharging begins. The recharging process will therefore be much faster, since they will not have no more pulling out their credit card or smartphone each time.
Plug & Charge is not available on all vehicles
Plug & Charge is unfortunately not compatible with all vehicles, since only a few models offer this technology, including the Porsche Taycan, the Ford Mach-E or the Mercedes EQS. Billing is also automated, with all the necessary information stored in the vehicle’s on-board system. ” More and more manufacturers are equipping their cars with the Plug & Charge function », Indicates Ionity, but this technology seems for the moment reserved for high-end cars.
On the billing side, it is also automated, all the necessary information being stored in the vehicle’s on-board system. Your car will have to agree to be billed first before charging can begin.
For its part, Tesla has already been offering this technology on its Superchargers for several years now. Its network will also open up to all other manufacturers, and Tesla is now working to expand it quickly to meet demand. The company also plans to improve the charging experience, since it will soon be possible to eat at a Tesla restaurant while your car is refueling.