Plug & Charge (ISO 15118) Explained

Imagine pulling up to a fast charger, plugging in, and walking away to get coffee — no app, no card, no tapping. That's Plug & Charge, and it's the most seamless way to pay for charging.

What Plug & Charge is

Plug & Charge is built on the ISO 15118 communication standard. When you connect your car to a compatible station, the car and charger exchange secure credentials automatically. The station identifies your vehicle, authorizes the session, starts charging, and bills the payment method tied to your account — all without you touching your phone.

Why it's a big deal

Public charging payment has historically been the clunkiest part of the experience: juggling apps, accounts, and cards across networks. Plug & Charge collapses all of that into a single action — plugging in. It's how charging should feel, and it's closer to the effortless Tesla Supercharger experience for everyone.

How to use it

1. Have a compatible car and station. Both need to support ISO 15118 Plug & Charge.
2. Enroll once. Set up Plug & Charge through your car's or network's system, linking a payment method.
3. Just plug in. On supported stations, charging starts and bills automatically.

The current reality

Plug & Charge adoption is growing but not universal. You'll encounter:

• Stations that support it — seamless experience.
• Stations that don't yet — you'll fall back to an app, card, or RFID (see how payment works).

Because of this mix, it's smart to keep network apps installed as a backup even after you enroll in Plug & Charge.

Security built in

ISO 15118 uses certificate-based authentication, so the convenience doesn't come at the cost of security. The car and charger verify each other cryptographically before any billing happens.

The direction of travel

As more cars and stations adopt the standard, Plug & Charge will become the default, and the patchwork of apps will fade into a backup role. For now, enroll where you can, keep a backup method, and enjoy the magic when it's available.

Find compatible stops

Knowing which network runs a station helps you anticipate whether Plug & Charge or an app is in play. ChargeScout surfaces the network and details on each listing so there are fewer surprises at the stall — and ranks the best option regardless of how you'll pay. For the full payment rundown, see how payment works at public chargers.