The electric vehicle (EV) ownership experience is about to become a bit easier in Australia, with one of the nation’s largest charging providers introducing a new system to streamline the process.
Evie Networks has announced it’ll soon roll out its Autocharge feature across Australia, allowing EV owners to pull up at a charging station, plug in and start charging without the need for a smartphone application or RFID card.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen this technology, as Tesla’s Superchargers – which are far less accessible to owners of EVs not made by the brand – can also start charging automatically.
Set to launch in August, its introduction comes after 30 per cent Australian motorists surveyed said they didn’t “feel confident about mastering EV charging related technology”, according to Evie’s head of public charging, Bernhard Conoplia.
To use Autocharge, Evie customers will need to have their car’s details pre-filled on their smartphone account, which the charging station will detect when plugged in, subsequently starting the charging session and drawing payment when it concludes.
Though Evie claims most EVs support Autocharge, overseas reports suggest Volkswagen’s MEB-based models – such as the upcoming ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq – do not, as they have been optimised for the rival Plug and Charge technology.
Initially rolling out “to select [a] group of frequent Evie users in the first instance to ensure the most seamless experience”, Autocharge is due to expand to 83 per cent of the brand’s circa-255 Australian fast-charging locations from early 2024.
The introduction of Evie’s Autocharge feature comes less than two months after rival firm Chargefox launched an initiative with the NRMA which resulted in the motoring club’s chargers appearing on the EV charging specialist’s application.
MORE: Major provider zaps electric car owners with higher rates
MORE: This EV charging provider wants to help you find a charger, even if it isn’t theirs
