EV charging future: What should a perfect EV charging journey look like?

The process of charging Electric Vehicles (EVs) can sometimes be more of a hassle than a joyride. But the future is looking bright! It’s time to turn this bumpy ride into a smooth experience. Let’s look at what the perfect EV charging customer journey should look like, the bumps in the road we need to fix, and how Irdeto, in collaboration with in-car connected services experts Parkopedia, is making it all happen, one charge at a time.

The current EV charging journey challenges

From finding a functioning charging station to navigating multiple apps and payment systems, EV drivers are faced with many obstacles:

• Finding the charging station: Locating a suitable charging station usually involves using in-vehicle displays, CPO apps and mapping services. But too often, problems like outdated app info, long wait times and physical barriers can complicate the process.
  
  
• Inconsistent infrastructure: The availability and reliability of public charging stations vary widely. A study found that over 25% of non-Tesla fast chargers in the San Francisco Bay Area were not functional due to problems like network connectivity issues, broken plugs, unresponsive screens and payment system failures.
  
  
• Range anxiety: Unlike traditional vehicles, EVs require thoughtful trip planning. Factors like speed, topography and weather can drain your battery faster than expected, making access to charging stations crucial to avoid disruptions.
  
  
• Payment issues: EV charging payments should be straightforward, but instead they often aren’t. Payment gateway failures and the need for different payment systems and methods at different stations complicate the process even further.

By addressing these challenges, we can start creating a flawless and user-friendly charging experience.

How Irdeto and Parkopedia are turning this journey into reality

Irdeto is successfully tackling these challenges with its advanced Plug and Charge capabilities under the ISO 15118 standard, within a multi-PKI ecosystem. 

We are extending our EV charging expertise in collaboration with Parkopedia, the leading global in-car services provider, which provides detailed information about parking and charging availability, prices and real-time occupancy across 90 countries.

We are creating a future where EV drivers can effortlessly locate and access charging points, pay for parking and charge their vehicles directly from their in-car media systems and finally eliminate the need for multiple apps, credit cards or legacy technologies like radio frequency identification cards. 

Here’s how we’re making a difference: 

• Seamless interoperability: EVs from various manufacturers can connect with different charging stations without issues, eliminating the need for multiple apps and memberships.
  
  
• Technological edge: With advanced technologies and standards such as ISO 15118 and Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 2.x, our solutions are more than ready for the future.
  
  
• Data ownership: Unlike competitors who might sell customer data in a loosely compliant way, Irdeto has the highest standards of security and privacy and maintains complete ownership and control throughout the entire process.
  
  
• Full key lifecycle management service: With handling of key creation, distribution, maintenance and revocation, Irdeto guarantees top-level security.
  
  
• End-to-End (E2E) control: By verifying the entire charging process from plug-in to completion, our solutions offer complete control without vendor lock-in.

Changing the future, one charge at a time

We are committed to developing a future where EV charging and parking are simple, secure and universally accessible. To find out more about how we’re perfecting the EV charging experience, download our new white paper and join us at the following upcoming event:

• MOVE America - Meet Irdeto and Parkopedia in Austin at the upcoming EV and Mobility Expo on September 24-25, 2024. Visit us at booth 737 or reach out to schedule a meeting.