Electric Vehicles

Charging a non-Tesla electric car isn't as straightforward as it should be. There are half a dozen charging apps on my phone to authenticate and initiate charging at different stations. Even then, I have to often contort to awkward angles at charging stations, over dangling cables, to glance at poorly lit screens on the dispensers to check the charging status. If you drive an EV you've likely had a similar experience. It's a real pain sometimes.

But the charging experience could soon improve with a new nationwide framework in the U.S. that aims to establish a simple "plug and charge" method for all electric cars, regardless of the brand. If it goes into effect, charging could be as simple as pumping gas; just pull up and plug-in.

Currently, automakers and charging companies using their own authentication systems. Principally, it's all the same: when you plug in an EV, there's a "handshake" between the car and the charger; a process where the two communicate to ensure a safe connection before charging begins.