Autocharge enables a charge session to be automatically started after a driver connects their vehicle to the charger without requiring the use of an RFiD card, payment card or mobile app. The charger will automatically recognize the vehicle based on its unique vehicle identifier, allowing simpler, faster and more secure user interaction. This superior user experience gives commercial charging station operators much greater flexibility to offer their customers a seamless and intuitive interaction with a charging station.
ABB is first to implement Autocharge, which is based on a unique identifier called EV-ID that is passed on by a CCS vehicle after plugging in the vehicle. After a first-time registration by the charging station operator, all chargers in their network will instantly recognize a customer’s vehicle. With this automatic ‘handshake,’ the station can automatically start charging while the transaction is being processed in the background, through the end of the session.
Backwards and forwards compatibility The Autocharge function works with older, recent and new vehicles with a CCS charging connection. Extensive tests have shown that most electric vehicles manufactured since 2012 can communicate their unique ID, and are capable of benefitting from the Autocharge feature. As of today, vehicles equipped with a CCS charging port are capable of Autocharge. When vehicles equipped with other charging standards offer this functionality, ABB will include them into the functionality.
Easy to implement – Based on open standards (OCPP, CCS) The Autocharge concept is developed within the open standards community and is based on standard OCPP communication and the default properties of the CCS protocol. Therefore the implementation is simple and fast as it only requires minimal adaptations to standard OCPP based backoffices.
Available now The Autocharge feature is available immediately for testing with charging station operators and OCPP back-offices. After successful testing, the software can be made available via over-the-air-update to the installed base of ABB chargers.
As an innovator in the charging infrastructure market ABB is continuously focussing its efforts to provide the best user experience with its chargers. ABB has provided charging solutions as part of its drive to promote sustainable mobility since 2010, and has sold more than 6,000 DC fast-chargers with related services such as cloud connectivity worldwide.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 136,000 employees.
