Plug and Charge is the technology that lets you start an EV charging session by simply plugging in — no RFID card, no app, no tap. The standard that makes it possible is ISO 15118, an international protocol published by the International Organization for Standardization that defines how your EV communicates directly with a charge point. In the UK in 2026, Plug and Charge is live at IONITY’s rapid charging network and expanding via Octopus Electroverse. On home chargers, it remains rare but is beginning to appear on premium hardware.
This guide explains what ISO 15118 is, how Plug and Charge works, which UK EVs and chargers support it, and what the honest state of UK rollout looks like in 2026.
What Is ISO 15118?
ISO 15118 is a multi-part international standard that defines the Vehicle-to-Grid Communication Interface — the technical conversation between an electric vehicle and a charge point. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it covers the messages, security protocols, and physical layer that allow an EV and a charger to identify each other, negotiate the charging session, and, in newer versions, manage bidirectional energy flow.
The standard enables:
- Plug and Charge (PnC): Automatic EV authentication by certificate exchange. The car identifies itself to the charger cryptographically; no card, app, or manual action required.
- Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and V2H: Bidirectional power flow — the EV discharges back to the grid or home. Enabled by ISO 15118-20.
- Smart charging communication: The charger and vehicle can negotiate the charging schedule and rate directly.
- Wireless charging preparation: ISO 15118-8 covers wireless communication for future inductive charging systems.
ISO 15118 was first published in 2014. The active parts currently are -2 (the core Plug and Charge baseline), -3 (physical and data link layer), -8 (wireless), and -20 (bidirectional, released 2022).
What Is Plug and Charge?
Plug and Charge is the consumer experience that ISO 15118-2 enables. The mechanism is a certificate exchange over the charging cable:
- You plug your EV into a compatible charger.
- The charger and EV establish a secure TLS connection over the control pilot line using powerline communication (PLC).
- The EV presents its contract certificate — a digital credential installed by your vehicle’s manufacturer or network operator at the time of purchase or via an over-the-air update.
- The charger validates the certificate against a trusted certificate authority (in Europe, Hubject operates the dominant V2G Root CA).
- The session starts automatically. No card tap, no app login, no PIN.
This is fundamentally different from the two methods most UK public charger users currently experience. RFID authentication uses a physical card that the charger’s reader must recognise — lost card, no charging. App authentication requires mobile signal and app launch. Plug and Charge requires neither.
It is also distinct from Autocharge, a proprietary shortcut used by some networks. Autocharge identifies the car by its MAC address — a hardware identifier that the charger reads when the cable is connected. It is faster to deploy than PnC because it requires no certificate infrastructure, but it is not standardised, is easier to spoof than certificate-based authentication, and is not interoperable across networks in the same way ISO 15118 is.
ISO 15118-2 vs ISO 15118-20
The two most commercially relevant parts of ISO 15118 serve different generations of the standard:
| Part | Published | Transport | Plug and Charge | V2G | Bidirectional | Wireless | UK deployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 15118-2 | 2014 | PLC over CCS | Yes | Messaging only | No | No | Active (IONITY) |
| ISO 15118-20 | 2022 | PLC + WLAN | Yes | Full V2G | Yes | Yes | Emerging |
ISO 15118-2 is the current baseline for Plug and Charge in the UK. All Plug and Charge deployments at IONITY and similar networks in 2026 run on ISO 15118-2 over the CCS Combined Charging System connector. It handles AC and DC charging, supports the full PKI certificate chain, and is the standard that EV manufacturers have been implementing since around 2019–2021.
ISO 15118-20 was published in 2022 and represents a significant extension. It adds support for bidirectional charging (V2G and V2H), wireless communication (WLAN alongside PLC), enhanced smart charging negotiation between EV and charger, and improved AC Plug and Charge support. The European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates ISO 15118-20 support on new public DC chargers from 2027. UK alignment is anticipated but not yet legislated.
For UK home charger buyers, understanding which part of the standard applies matters because 15118-20 is what enables the full V2G use case — and that requires both the car and the charger to support it.
How the Plug and Charge Handshake Works
The technical process behind Plug and Charge is worth understanding because it explains both the security model and why it requires specific hardware:
Step 1 — Physical connection and PLC link. When you plug in, the CCS cable carries not just power but a powerline communication (PLC) signal on the control pilot wire. The charger and EV negotiate a communication channel using HomePlug GreenPHY — a PLC standard designed for EV charging.
Step 2 — TLS handshake. The EV and charger perform a Transport Layer Security (TLS) handshake over the PLC link. This establishes an encrypted channel for all subsequent messaging — including the certificate exchange.
Step 3 — Certificate presentation. The EV presents its contract certificate. This is an X.509 digital certificate issued to the specific vehicle by a contract certificate pool operator (typically the manufacturer, a CPO, or a third-party mobility service provider). It carries the vehicle’s EVCCID (EV Communication Controller ID) and the contract details.
Step 4 — Certificate validation. The charger checks the certificate against its trust list, which traces back to a root certificate authority. In Europe, Hubject operates the primary V2G root CA (Certificate Authority) and runs the certificate provisioning infrastructure that links manufacturers, CPOs, and roaming hubs.
Step 5 — Session start. With the certificate validated, the session starts automatically. The charger debits the payment to the account associated with the contract certificate. No further action required from the driver.
This architecture means that Plug and Charge security is substantially stronger than RFID (which can be cloned) or simple MAC-address Autocharge (which provides no cryptographic proof of identity).
UK Plug and Charge Availability in 2026
Here is the honest picture of where Plug and Charge actually works in the UK right now:
| Network | PnC status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IONITY | Full PnC live | Most comprehensive UK PnC deployment |
| Octopus Electroverse | Expanding PnC | Rolling out across aggregated networks |
| Shell Recharge | Partial, rolling out | Dependent on hardware generation at each site |
| Pod Point | RFID/app primary | PnC not widely deployed |
| bp pulse | App primary | PnC not standard |
| Osprey | App/card primary | PnC not deployed |
Network status changes regularly as hardware upgrades roll out — verify current availability with each network before relying on PnC for a specific journey.
The honest conclusion for 2026 is that IONITY gives you the most reliable and consistent Plug and Charge experience on UK public rapid charging. Octopus Electroverse is actively rolling it out across its aggregated network. Most other UK networks remain primarily RFID and app-based.
This matters when buying an EV or home charger: if your regular public charging is at IONITY or Electroverse-aggregated sites, Plug and Charge is a genuinely useful feature. If you primarily use Pod Point or bp pulse, RFID remains the practical option.
Plug and Charge-Enabled EVs
Plug and Charge support requires compatible hardware and software in the vehicle. The following manufacturers and models support ISO 15118-2 Plug and Charge as of 2026:
| Brand | Models with PnC | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porsche | Taycan (all trims, MY2019+) | First mainstream PnC EV |
| BMW | i4, i5, i7, iX (MY2024+) | Entire i-model range from MY2024 |
| Mercedes | EQS, EQE, EQS SUV, EQE SUV | All current EQ models |
| Hyundai | Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 (MY2024+) | Earlier model years vary |
| Kia | EV6 (MY2025+), EV9 (MY2026+) | Earlier EV6 not supported |
| Ford | Mustang Mach-E (MY2021+) | One of the earliest PnC EVs |
| VW Group | ID.4, ID.5, ID.Buzz, ID.3, Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q6 e-tron, Cupra Born | Requires ID.software 3.1 or later |
| Lucid | Lucid Air | Limited UK availability |
Model-year coverage moves quickly; re-verify each manufacturer’s current PnC status against their latest software version before purchase.
For a UK-focused breakdown with activation details, see our best EVs with Plug and Charge in the UK guide.
Plug and Charge on Home Chargers
The honest answer about home charging is that most home AC chargers do not need full ISO 15118-2 Plug and Charge. Here is why:
At home, your charger already knows it is you. You installed it, it is connected to your account, and your energy supplier identifies you through the OCPP back-end link or your app account. The authentication problem that Plug and Charge solves at public chargers — “who is this driver and how do I charge them?” — does not exist in the same way at home.
This is why the vast majority of UK home chargers ship without PLC modems or ISO 15118 firmware. They do not need it for the home use case.
That said, ISO 15118-ready hardware is now beginning to appear at the premium end of the UK home charger market. The NexBlue Point 2 and certain Zaptec Go 2 configurations are marketed as 15118-ready. The practical benefits at home are currently limited, but the hardware is positioned for V2G adoption — ISO 15118-20 is the enabling protocol for bidirectional home charging.
Verify NexBlue Point 2 and Zaptec Go 2 current firmware capability against their 2026 spec sheets before purchasing on the basis of PnC claims — marketing sometimes outpaces actual firmware availability.
For our full shortlist of home chargers with PnC support, see best home chargers with Plug and Charge support.
Plug and Charge vs Autocharge
The two terms are easy to confuse because they describe the same consumer outcome (plug in, charging starts) via very different technical mechanisms.
| Feature | Plug and Charge (ISO 15118) | Autocharge (proprietary) |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication method | X.509 certificate exchange | MAC address identification |
| Standard | ISO 15118-2 | Proprietary per-network |
| Security | Cryptographic, hard to spoof | MAC address can be cloned |
| Interoperability | Cross-network (via Hubject PKI) | Network-specific |
| UK availability | IONITY, some Electroverse | Various (Tesla, some Podpoint) |
| Hardware requirement | PLC modem + ISO 15118 firmware | None additional |
Autocharge works when the network operator has stored your car’s MAC address in their back-end and matches it on each connection. It requires no additional hardware in the car or charger, which is why some networks deployed it before full ISO 15118 infrastructure was ready. It is not interoperable across networks and provides weaker security guarantees.
Plug and Charge, V2G, and V2H
ISO 15118-20 is the version of the standard that enables bidirectional power flow — and therefore vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging. It extends the communication interface to carry discharge requests from the grid or home energy management system to the vehicle, with the same certificate-based security as Plug and Charge.
For UK drivers interested in V2G or V2H, this means:
- ISO 15118-20 support in both the car and the charger is required for bidirectional operation.
- Most current V2G trials in the UK (Indra, Kaluza) use proprietary protocols rather than ISO 15118-20; the standard is available but adoption is early.
- The EU’s AFIR regulation mandating 15118-20 from 2027 will drive hardware upgrades across public DC chargers, which will in turn push EV manufacturers to certify their cars against it.
For the full picture on V2G in the UK, see our V2G EV charging hub.
Is It Safe? Certificates, PKI, and Cyber Security
Plug and Charge uses a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) — the same fundamental security architecture that protects HTTPS websites and banking apps. Each vehicle carries a contract certificate signed by a chain of trusted certificate authorities, tracing back to a V2G Root CA.
In Europe, Hubject operates the primary V2G Root CA and the associated Plug and Charge certificate provisioning infrastructure. Manufacturers, charge point operators, and mobility service providers register with Hubject to participate in the trusted ecosystem.
The practical security properties are strong: the certificate is tied to the specific vehicle’s cryptographic key pair, cannot be easily copied or transferred, and the TLS transport layer encrypts all communication between car and charger. This is materially more secure than RFID cards, which can be cloned with widely available hardware.
Key Takeaways
- ISO 15118 is the international standard that enables Plug and Charge and vehicle-to-grid communication.
- ISO 15118-2 covers first-generation Plug and Charge; ISO 15118-20 adds bidirectional charging and is the EU’s 2027 public DC mandate.
- In the UK in 2026, IONITY and Octopus Electroverse offer the broadest live Plug and Charge experience.
- Home AC chargers rarely need full Plug and Charge today, but ISO 15118-ready hardware is available for future-proofing toward V2G.
- Plug and Charge is ISO-standard and interoperable; Autocharge is a proprietary MAC-ID shortcut used by some networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ISO 15118 do? ISO 15118 is the international standard defining communication between an electric vehicle and a charge point. Its two headline capabilities are Plug and Charge — automatic EV authentication by certificate exchange — and Vehicle-to-Grid communication, where the car and charger negotiate bidirectional energy flow. ISO 15118-2 covers the Plug and Charge baseline; ISO 15118-20 adds bidirectional charging.
Is Plug and Charge available in the UK? Yes, though it is not yet universal. As of 2026, IONITY operates the most comprehensive Plug and Charge network in the UK. Octopus Electroverse is actively rolling it out across its aggregated network. Most other major UK CPOs (bp pulse, Pod Point, Osprey) remain primarily RFID and app-based. Network status changes as hardware upgrades roll out across individual sites.
What is the difference between Plug and Charge and Autocharge? Plug and Charge uses X.509 certificates exchanged over a secure TLS connection via ISO 15118. It is standardised, interoperable across networks via Hubject’s PKI infrastructure, and cryptographically secure. Autocharge identifies a car by its MAC address — a hardware identifier that requires no additional charger hardware but provides weaker security and no cross-network interoperability.
Do I need Plug and Charge on my home charger? For most UK home charging scenarios, no. Your home charger authenticates you through your energy account and OCPP back-end, not through a per-vehicle certificate. PnC becomes relevant at home if you have multiple drivers sharing a charger and need per-vehicle billing, or if you are planning for V2G via ISO 15118-20.
When will ISO 15118-20 be mandatory? The EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requires all new public DC charge points above 50 kW to support ISO 15118-20 from 2027. UK alignment with this timeline is anticipated but has not been legislated as of early 2026. Figures vary — verify current UK government guidance before making infrastructure investment decisions.
Useful Resources
ISO 15118-20:2022 standard overview https://www.iso.org/standard/77845.html
Hubject Plug and Charge infrastructure https://www.hubject.com/products/plug-and-charge
Paua — Plug and Charge explained https://www.paua.com/article/plug-and-charge-explained-iso-15118-din-spec-70121-tesla-and-why-not-all-ev-charging-is-the-same
Octopus Electroverse — What is Plug and Charge? https://electroverse.com/community/ev-blogs-and-guides/what-is-plug-and-charge
Recharged — Plug and Charge EVs list https://recharged.com/articles/plug-and-charge-evs-list