Plug & Charge with Autocharge
The driver plugs in. The charger recognises the vehicle. The session starts.
YoCharge offers plug and charge today through Autocharge. Once a driver registers their vehicle, supported chargers identify it as soon as the cable goes in and start the session on its own, with no app, no RFID card and no QR code. It runs on the same platform as the rest of your network, used by charging operators in 25+ countries.
- No app or card
- Starts on plug-in
- Works over OCPP
- At supported chargers
Plug and charge software for your network
Every step before charging is a chance for the session to fail: a slow app, a lost card, no signal at a basement charger. Autocharge removes those steps. For your drivers, charging is as simple as parking and plugging in. For you, it means faster starts, fewer support calls at the charger, and a reason for drivers to choose your network again.
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For drivers: no app to open, no card to find.
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For operators: the session is authorised, metered and billed to the driver’s account like any other.
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For your brand: Autocharge works inside your own driver app and accounts.
How Autocharge works
Register once: the driver links their vehicle to their account in your app.
Plug in: at a supported charger, the driver connects the cable.
The charger identifies the vehicle: it sends the vehicle’s ID (its MAC address, VID or VIN) to YoCharge over OCPP, where it is stored against the vehicle.
Two checks, then charge: YoCharge first identifies the vehicle, then checks the driver’s wallet and payment, and tells the charger to start.
Charge and bill: the session runs and is billed to the driver’s account, like any other session.
Works across your chargers
YoCharge is hardware-agnostic: it runs 60+ charger brands over OCPP 1.6J, 2.0.1 and 2.1-ready. Autocharge runs on the chargers in that mix that support it, and we check each new charger model’s OCPP behaviour before it goes live.
Who it’s for
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Charge point operators: give drivers on your network a faster, simpler start.
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Fleets: drivers plug in at the depot and charge without handling apps or cards. Plug and charge for fleets is live on YoCharge.
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eMSPs and new charging brands: offer plug-in-and-charge in your own white-label app, alongside RFID and roaming.
The standard, explained.
What is ISO 15118 Plug & Charge?
ISO 15118 is an international standard for communication between an electric vehicle and a charger. Its Plug & Charge feature uses contract certificates: digital certificates stored in the vehicle and checked through a public key infrastructure (PKI), over an encrypted connection. It works on AC and DC chargers, but it needs vehicles, chargers and back-end systems that all support the standard, plus the certificate ecosystem behind them. ISO 15118-2 is the version most deployed today; ISO 15118-20 is the newer version, with added features such as bidirectional charging.
| Autocharge | ISO 15118 Plug & Charge | |
|---|---|---|
| How the vehicle is identified | Its ID (MAC address, VID or VIN), stored against the vehicle and matched to a registered account | A contract certificate stored in the vehicle |
| Security | Two layers: vehicle identification, then the driver’s wallet and payment | Encrypted communication with digital certificates and a PKI |
| Where it works | Supported chargers that send the vehicle ID; many do today | Chargers and vehicles that support ISO 15118, AC and DC |
| What setup needs | One-time vehicle registration with the operator | Certificates issued and managed through a PKI ecosystem |
| On YoCharge | Available today | Not offered today |
YoCharge offers Autocharge today.
Plug & Charge: questions buyers ask
What is plug and charge?
Plug and charge means the session starts as soon as the driver connects the cable, with no app, card or QR code. YoCharge delivers it through Autocharge at supported chargers.
How does Autocharge work on YoCharge?
The driver registers their vehicle once. When they plug in, the charger sends the vehicle’s ID (its MAC address, VID or VIN) to YoCharge over OCPP, where it is stored against the vehicle. YoCharge then runs two checks: it identifies the vehicle, then checks the driver’s wallet and payment, and starts the session, which is billed like any other.
Which chargers and vehicles support Autocharge?
Chargers that send the vehicle’s ID (MAC address, VID or VIN) when it plugs in, and vehicles that share it. Many chargers support it today. We check each charger model on the platform before it goes live.
Does YoCharge support ISO 15118 Plug & Charge?
Not today. YoCharge offers Autocharge, which gives drivers the same plug-in-and-charge experience on supported chargers without the certificate infrastructure ISO 15118 requires.
Autocharge vs plug and charge (ISO 15118): what’s the difference?
Both start a session when the driver plugs in. Autocharge identifies the vehicle by its ID (MAC address, VID or VIN), matched to an account the driver registered with the operator. ISO 15118 Plug & Charge uses contract certificates in the vehicle, checked through a PKI. Autocharge is simpler to run and works on many chargers today.
Can fleets use Autocharge?
Yes. Plug and charge is live for fleets on YoCharge: drivers plug in at supported chargers, and sessions are recorded against the fleet’s accounts.
Let your drivers just plug in
Tell us about your chargers and your drivers. We’ll show you how Autocharge works on YoCharge.
Book a demoOr email sales@yocharge.com