The Future of EV Charging: Plug and Charge Demo at CharIN Testival
The EV industry took a significant leap forward at the CharIN e.V. Testival in San Bernardino, California. ChargeHub and Irdeto partnered to deliver North America’s first live Plug & Charge (P&C) demonstration, showcasing a secure, seamless EV charging experience that could redefine industry interoperability.
To explore this milestone, we spoke with Olivier Proulx, CTO at ChargeHub, and Adam Wilkinson, Solutions Architect at Irdeto. They shared insights into the groundbreaking demo, its technology, and its implications for the EV ecosystem.
How the Plug & Charge Demo Worked
At the CharIN Testival, ChargeHub, Irdeto, Lynkwell, and Autel demonstrated how Plug & Charge transforms EV charging through secure authentication, real-time data exchange, and automated billing. This demo proved seamless interoperability is possible when industry leaders collaborate.
“We haven’t seen any kind of roaming hub connection with Plug & Charge in North America, so that’s a very cool step to see live in action,” said Adam Wilkinson.
The demonstration followed these key steps:
- Authentication: An EV connected to an Autel EVSE, triggering secure communication using Irdeto’s digital certificates.“The EV identifies itself to the charging station, and the station responds by confirming a secure connection,” explained Proulx.
- Authorization: The charging station sent the driver’s contract data to the CPO backend (Lynkwell). Since the CPO didn’t recognize the contract, it contacted ChargeHub’s Roaming Hub, Passport Hub, which verified the driver’s credentials through its eMSP (ChargeHub’s app).
- Energy Delivery: Once authorized, the charging process began.
Beyond the One-Minute Demo
While the demo ended with a successful charging session, its impact extended further. Behind the quick session lies a seamless financial process that simplifies business operations across the EV charging ecosystem.
“When you unplug, the CPO tells the Hub, ‘This session cost five bucks,’” explained Olivier Proulx. “The Hub bills the driver, and the process is complete.” But the automation doesn’t stop there. At the end of the billing cycle, Passport Hub ensures that CPOs are paid automatically, eliminating manual invoicing and payment reconciliation.
“They delivered energy, so they’re going to get paid at the end of the month,” Proulx emphasized. By connecting all players—CPOs, eMSPs, and drivers—through a single hub, the system streamlines operations, simplifies accounting, and reduces administrative overhead, making EV charging more manageable and scalable for businesses.
Securing EV Charging with Digital Certificates
Every seamless Plug & Charge session relies on robust digital certificate-based security guided by the ISO-15118 standard. These certificates authenticate EVs, charging stations, and contracts, ensuring legitimate, secure transactions.
“Digital certificates are like passports for devices,” explained Wilkinson. “They verify identity through a trusted authority.”
Behind the scenes, maintaining trust involves rigorous compliance, secure cryptographic storage, and even air-gapped rooms protected by fire suppression systems. “The infrastructure required by a trusted authority to create secure digital certificates is complex, but it’s essential for ensuring trustworthy transactions,” he added.
Driving EV Charging Forward Through Partnership
The Plug & Charge demonstration showcased more than technology—it demonstrated how collaboration can simplify even the most complex processes. By combining Irdeto’s cybersecurity expertise with ChargeHub’s EV roaming capabilities, the partnership redefined EV charging from secure authentication to seamless payment processing.
“Partnerships bring people’s strengths together. That enables faster market adoption and a better experience for everybody,” Proulx emphasized.
Their shared mission is clear: to remove barriers, simplify operations, and accelerate EV adoption. “If it’s simple and people don’t have to think about it, they’re far more likely to participate,” concluded Wilkinson.
Together, they’re transforming EV charging from a fragmented system into a connected ecosystem—unlocking a future where Plug & Charge becomes the industry standard.
Partner with us to simplify EV charging operations through secure and interoperable solutions. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business scale and stay ahead in the evolving EV ecosystem.
