ISO 15118 Plug & Charge Implementation

How Plug & Charge Works

Plug & Charge uses a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) where the vehicle carries a digital certificate installed by the automaker. When the EV connects to a charger, they exchange certificates over a TLS-encrypted powerline communication (PLC) channel. The charger validates the vehicle's certificate against the mobility operator's root certificate, authorizes the session, and charging begins, all in under 5 seconds.

The beauty of this approach is that no app, RFID card, or credit card is needed. The vehicle itself is the authentication token. Billing flows through the e-mobility service provider linked to the vehicle's contract certificate.

The PKI Ecosystem

Implementing Plug & Charge requires a trust chain: the vehicle OEM issues contract certificates, the charge point operator provisions the charger with its own certificate, and a root certificate authority (like Hubject) anchors the trust chain. Each party must manage certificate lifecycle: issuance, renewal, and revocation.

This is where most implementations stumble. The PKI infrastructure is complex, and interoperability between different OEMs, operators, and certificate authorities requires careful coordination. Standards bodies are working to simplify this, but early implementations require significant integration effort.

Implementation in India

ISO 15118 adoption in India is in early stages. Most current chargers use OCPP-based authorization (RFID, app-based). However, as global automakers bring ISO 15118-capable vehicles to India, forward-thinking operators are preparing their infrastructure.

RIOD's charger hardware includes ISO 15118-capable communication modules and our CPMS supports the certificate management workflows required for Plug & Charge. This ensures operators can activate the feature when the ecosystem is ready, without hardware replacement.