One of many complaints about public charging is that some public chargers require EV drivers to go through a cumbersome process involving apps and logins before charging. Plug & Charge, based on the ISO 15118 standard, eliminates all that, handling authentication and billing automatically when a driver plugs in. (This is basically the same feature set that Tesla Superchargers have had since the beginning.)

There’s also an alternative system called Autocharge, which uses the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) to accomplish pretty much the same thing. Proponents say it’s faster and easier to implement than Plug & Charge (though the latter seems to offer more stringent security).

Charging network operator EVgo offers its own version of Autocharge, called Autocharge+, which allows EV drivers to seamlessly initiate a charging session by simply plugging in their vehicles to an EVgo fast charger. Now EVgo has added support for Rivian’s R1T and R1S models, bringing the list of Autocharge+ compatible EVs to 30.

EVgo Autocharge+ enables drivers with compatible EVs to initiate a charging session in seconds, with no need to open an app, swipe a credit card or tap an EVgo RFID card. Since launching in September 2022, Autocharge+ now accounts for 13% of all charging sessions on the EVgo network.

“As we’ve seen with rideshare, on-demand delivery, contactless payments and beyond, the more frictionless and dependable an experience is, the more people will embrace it. EVgo is committed to delivering reliable and convenient fast charging, and Autocharge+ offers the seamless customer experience that drivers expect,” said Ivo Steklac, Chief Technology Officer at EVgo.

Source: EVgo