Autocharge: The smooth charging of the future for electric cars

Charging an electric car should be as easy as charging your mobile phone - plug in the cable and let the charging begin. Autocharge technology makes it a reality. In this article we go over what Autocharge is, how it differs from Plug & Charge, which vehicles support the technology and which chargers are compatible.

What is Autocharge?

Autocharge is a charging technology that allows electric car drivers to start a charging session by simply plugging the charging cable into the car - without any extra steps. No app to open, no RFID card to scan, no payment to make manually. Everything happens automatically in the background.

When you connect your electric car to an Autocharge-compatible charging station, the following happens:

1. Vehicle Identification - The car communicates its unique identity (MAC address) to the charging station via the CCS connector
2. Automatic Authentication - The charging station management system recognizes the vehicle and links it to your account
3. Charging starts - Session starts automatically if you have enough balance
4. Payment in the background - When charging is complete, the cost will be automatically debited from your account

How does Autocharge technically work?

In order for Autocharge to work, three components are requiredworking together:

1. Identification of the vehicle

The electric car must be able to send a unique identifier through the Combined Charging System (CCS) connector. This can be either:

• MAC address (Media Access Control) - a unique hardware address for the vehicle communication system

2. Compatible charging station

The charger must support OCPP (Open ChargePoint Protocol) version 1.5 or later. OCPP is the industry standard for communication between charging stations and central management systems. Autocharge uses OCPP's “Authorize” command to send the identity of the vehicle to the management system.

3. Central management system

A charge management system that supports OCPP and can:

• Authorize charging based on the vehicle's unique identifier
• Send an “Authorize” response back to the charging station to start charging
• Manage multiple vehicles linked to the same account

Communication protocol

Autocharge and Plug & Charge primarily use two protocols:

• FROM SPEC 70121 - a subset of ISO 15118 that focuses on DC charging without secure TLS communication
• ISO 15118 - a more comprehensive standard that supports TLS encryption

Difference between Autocharge and Plug & Charge

Many people confuse Autocharge with Plug & Charge, but they are two different technologies with the same user experience but different technical implementation:

Autocharge

• Easier implementation - Faster and cheaper to implement for charging operators
• Using MAC - Identifies vehicles via MAC address
• OCPP-based - Builds on existing OCPP infrastructure (version 1.5+)
• Mainly DC charging - Works primarily on fast chargers with CCS connector
• Network-specific - Requires one-time registration for each charging network
• Lower security - Easier authentication method

Plug & Charge (ISO 15118)

• Higher security - Uses digital signatures and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)
• More complex - More expensive and time consuming to implement
• AC and DC - Works on both AC and DC chargers
• Cross-network - Can work over different charging networks
• Requires ISO 15118 support - Both vehicle and charger must support the standard
• Future-proof - Expected to become the industry standard in the long run

Summary: Autocharge is faster and easier to implement today, while Plug & Charge offers higher security and better long-term compatibility but requires more investment in infrastructure.

Which vehicles support Autocharge?

In order for a vehicle to be compatible with Autocharge it is required:

1. CCS Connector (Sistema di ricarica combinata)
2. Unique MAC address which can be communicated to the charging station
3. Two-way communication between vehicle and charger

Compatible car makes and models

Works with Autocharge:

• BYD - Atto, Dolphin, Seal
• Dacia - Leap
• Ford - Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit
• Hyundai - Kona Electric, Ioniq, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6
• Jaguar - I-PACE
• Kia - EV3, EV4, EV6, EV9, Niro EV, Soul EV
• Lexus - RZ
• Mercedes-Benz - EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE, EQS
• Mini - Cooper SE
• Nissan - Ariya
• Polestar - 2
• Renault - Megane E-Tech
• Subaru - Solterra
• Tesla - Model 3, Model X, Model Y (with CCS adapter)
• Toyota - bz4x
• Volvo - C40, EX30, XC40 Recharge

Vehicles that do NOT support Autocharge

Brands/models without support:

• Audi - All models (including e-tron 2018-2019, Q4 e-tron)
• BMW - All models (including iX1, i7)
• Volkswagen - All models (e-Up, e-Golf, ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.buzz)
• Porsche - Taycan and other models
• Škoda - Enyaq IV, Elroq, Citigo e-IV
• Cupra - Born
• Mazda - MX-30
• Nissan Leaf - Uses Chademo connector (lacks unique identifier)
• Renault - Zoe, Kangoo E-Tech
• Citroen, Opel, Peugeot - Most electric models

Why doesn't it work?‍

Some manufacturers (notably the Volkswagen Group, Audi, Porsche and BMW) do not use unique MAC addresses for each vehicle, or multiple cars share the same MAC address. This makes it impossible for the system to identify individual vehicles.

Compatible chargers and charging networks

Charging stations that support Autocharge

DC Fast Charger:

• Primary support - Autocharge works mainly on DC fast chargers (50 kW and up)
• CCS connector required - Only the CCS standard can communicate the vehicle's unique identifier
• OCPP 1.5+ - Charging station must support OCPP version 1.5 or later

AC Charger:

• Limited support - Some AC chargers can support Autocharge if they meet ISO 15118-3
• Not all models - Majority of AC chargers (Level 2, 11-22 kW) do not support Autocharge

Benefits of Autocharge

For drivers:

• Time-saving - No waiting for app login or card scanning
• Comfortable in any weather - Stay in the car during inclement weather, no phone or card handling
• Simpler than the petrol pump - No queuing at checkout for payment
• Perfect for quick stops - Ideal when you are in a hurry

For charging operators:

• Better customer experience - Increased customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Market advantages - Differentiate from competitors
• Ease of implementation - Cheaper and faster than Plug & Charge
• Works with older cars - Wide vehicle compatibility

Is Autocharge safe?

Yes, Autocharge is safe when used correctly:

• Unique Identification - Only your registered car can start charging on your account
• MAC Address Binding - The vehicle's MAC address is linked to your account
• Fraud Detection - System flags impossible scenarios (e.g., charging in two cities at the same time)
• GDPR Compliance - Charging operators comply with data protection rules

Important safety advice:

• Deactivate Autocharge before selling or returning a rental car
• Temporarily deactivate if you lend the car to someone else
• Check the charging history regularly in the app
• Do not use Autocharge on rental car (you are responsible for all future charges unless you deactivate)

The Future of Autocharge

Autocharge represents an important step towards smoother electric car charging, but it is most likely a transitional solution:

Short-term (2026-2027):

• More charging networks implement Autocharge
• Increased vehicle compatibility as manufacturers see demand
• Continued parallel use with apps and RFID cards

Long-term (2028+):

• Plug & Charge (ISO 15118) expected to become the dominant standard
• Increased security and cross-network functionality
• Autocharge can be phased out or integrated into Plug & Charge solutions

Summary

Autocharge is a smart charging technology that simplifies electric vehicle charging by automating authentication, authorization and payment. By simply plugging in the charging cable, charging starts automatically - no app or card needed.

Key Facts:

• Works with CCS vehicles that have unique MAC address
• Primary DC fast charger, limited AC support
• Simpler and cheaper than Plug & Charge, but lower security
• Network specific - requires registration with each operator
• Supported by many popular electric cars (Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Mercedes)
• Not compatible with Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Porsche

If your car supports Autocharge and you regularly charge on the same network, it's definitely worth activating - it saves time and makes the charging experience significantly smoother.