The easiest way to charge your EV.
The acronym PnC stands for “Plug and Charge,” an electric-vehicle charging standard often also seen written as Plug & Charge, or P&C.
What is PnC Charging?
Not to be confused with CCS or NACS charging, which are dictated by the plug and charger type being employed, PnC refers to the method by which your car communicates with the charging network. A seamless charging format, PnC is defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and published as ISO 15118.
Ideally, the systems allow EV operators to simply plug a vehicle into a compatible charging station, and start charging automatically—no apps, RFID cards, QR codes, credit cards, or manual authentication required.
How it works
An EV and charging station communicates securely via the vehicle’s built-in “digital certificate.” As the charger and vehicle communicate, the vehicle identifies itself, is authenticated, and billing is handled automatically through a pre-linked payment arrangement—most likely a registered credit card.
Charging starts and stops without any extra steps from the driver. This makes the experience similar to refueling a gasoline-powered car, or plugging in your phone.
Requirements
A given EV must be programmed with ISO 15118 compatibility, and have a valid contract certificate installed. The following charging networks include at least some charging stations which support PnC connections:
- Electrify America
- Tesla
- EVgo
- ChargePoint
Benefits
Eliminates the hassle of managing multiple apps or cards. PnC is especially useful in bad weather or for frequent chargers.
Limitations
- Application is not yet universal; both the car and charging station must support it.
- Initial setup requires enrolling your vehicle with a provider.
Setup
Some networks may have slightly different pricing or availability compared to traditional charging methods. Contact your charging provider for details.
Access
PnC is becoming more widespread globally as part of efforts to standardize and simplify EV charging.
Tesla
Tesla’s Supercharger charging network provides PnC access for all Tesla-brand vehicles.
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EV Charging Pictures
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