The future of EV charging: How OEMs and CPOs can provide the optimum charging experience for drivers

Charging an EV is still a stressful process for drivers, with various potential issues detracting from the user experience - from locating and accessing chargers, to successfully paying for charging sessions. However, significant work is being done to make the charging process more streamlined and efficient for the growing number of EV users. 

In this joint post with our partners at Irdeto, we explore the obstacles that need to be addressed, how the current EV charging process can be improved and how our collaboration works to transform this vision into reality.

Current EV charging challenges facing drivers

Today's EV charging landscape is fraught with obstacles that can limit the convenience and reliability of charging for drivers. These affect everything from establishing where to charge, to whether facilities are accessible and fully functional:

• Locating charging stations: EV drivers typically rely on their infotainment systems, charging point operator (CPO) apps and phone mapping services to find suitable charging stations. However, these often feature significant amounts of inaccurate or out-of-date information, potentially forcing drivers to cross-check separate sources to ensure adequate coverage and can involve long-winded user interfaces and sign-up processes. This is a particular problem with phone-based systems, since using a phone while driving is illegal in most countries and phone mirroring systems can still be highly distracting and offer a poor experience and user interface. 

As a result, these services can make it difficult for drivers to simply find operational charging locations, causing unnecessary stress and increasing overall journey times, compared with deeply integrated in-car services with constantly updated data, such as those provided to OEMs by Parkopedia. Added to this, the poor-quality data featured in many CPO or phone apps may fail to show correct opening times or access restrictions or have inaccurately logged locations, so even if drivers can find a charge point location, they may still not be able to access it, which could have detrimental consequences if a vehicle is critically low on charge.

• Inconsistent reliability: Public charging stations vary widely in terms of reliability, with the availability of chargers also being an issue experienced by a significant proportion of EV drivers. 

For example, more than 25% of non-Tesla fast chargers in the San Francisco Bay Area were found to be out-of-order, in a recent study reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, due to problems including network connectivity issues, physical damage such as broken connectors or unresponsive screens and payment system malfunctions. 

• Charge anxiety: While the distance new electric cars can travel on a charge continues to increase, most EVs still can’t match petrol and diesel equivalents for range, with many still only offering limited real-world range of less than 200 miles. This can cause charge anxiety where drivers are forced to track down available public charging on longer journeys, which potentially may not be available or operational. 

Furthermore, higher speeds, hilly terrain and both hot and cold weather can cause EVs to lose range faster than normal, potentially increasing drivers’ range anxiety and necessitating careful trip planning on longer journeys to reduce the chance of running out of charge and to minimize charging times. Combine these with difficulties in locating fully functional and available charging points and charge anxiety can quickly escalate.

• Payment complexity: While paying to charge should be a straightforward process and no more challenging than making a card payment in any shop, this can often be a frustratingly complex and long-winded process for drivers. 

Drivers often need multiple payment accounts and potentially numerous RFID cards to access a sufficient range of charging networks. Additionally, payment gateway issues can prevent payments from going through completely, leaving drivers unable to charge at those sites.

Addressing these issues is essential in developing a seamless and user-friendly EV charging experience. Parkopedia and Irdeto are working to streamline the charging and payment process for drivers, but what format would the ideal charging experience take?

Parkopedia and Irdeto align to provide the best possible charging experience

Charging should be intuitive, efficient, and secure - enabling drivers to seamlessly access a wide range of chargers directly from their car. This relies upon vehicles having access to high-quality, accurate data to ensure that the car can direct drivers straight to charging locations that are fully functional and available. However, several other elements are needed for a seamless charging process, including the following:

1. Destination Input: Drivers should be able to easily find and navigate to destinations using the in-vehicle navigation system. These Integrated in-car systems also offer the benefit of being able to access vehicle sensor data and offering value-added charging convenience features, including Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality, which enables drivers to access multiple services from one account within their vehicle.
2. Charging Station Suggestions: The system should suggest optimal charging locations that are unique to the driver, based on factors such as planned journeys, range, availability, pricing and loyalty rewards to ensure that drivers can make informed decisions about where to charge.
3. Reservation and Confirmation: With a few simple taps, the driver should be able to select and reserve a charging location, minimising uncertainty and wait times.
4. Integrated Payment Solutions: The payment process should be integrated within the system, automatically selecting the most cost-effective option based on the expected charge duration and required energy. This approach ensures transparency and convenience.
5. Automated Charging: Once at the station, the driver should be able to plug in without any additional steps. The charging process should be automated and secure, delivering peace of mind.

How Parkopedia and Irdeto are shaping the future of EV charging

Parkopedia provides comprehensive parking and charging data - including EV charger information such as availability, pricing and real-time occupancy across 113 countries - and is working with Irdeto, who provide advanced Plug and Charge capabilities under the ISO 15118 standard and a robust multi-PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) ecosystem to address these challenges head-on and improve the EV charging experience universally.

Together, we are delivering a world where EV drivers can easily locate and access charging points, pay for parking, and charge their vehicles directly from their in-car media systems. This eliminates the need for multiple apps or RFID cards, simplifying the user experience and elevating the current charging experience.

Our key initiatives include:

• Seamless Interoperability: We ensure that EVs from various manufacturers can connect to different charging stations without compatibility issues, removing the need for multiple apps and memberships.
• Advanced Security: We provide robust security protocols to safeguard against potential cyber threats, ensuring that the charging process is secure and reliable.
• Efficient End-to-End Charging: By verifying the entire charging process from plug-in to completion, we are committed to delivering a reliable and efficient experience for all users.

Continue the conversation with Parkopedia and Irdeto

Parkopedia and Irdeto are committed to developing a future where parking and EV charging are simple, reliable and secure. To find out more about how we’re enhancing the EV charging experience join us at the following upcoming events:

World EV Day Live Webinar - ‘EV Charging Unplugged: Addressing the needs of Global EV Drivers’ - Monday 9th Septemeber 2024 at 16:00-17:00 CEST. Sign Up.

MOVE America - Meet Parkopedia and Irdeto (Booth 737) in Austin at the upcoming EV and Mobility Expo on September 24-25 2024, reach out to schedule a meeting.