What is the difference between Plug & Charge and AutoCharge authentication?

Plug & Charge and AutoCharge are two convenient ways to start a charging session automatically when you connect your Porsche to a public charging station. Both enable a seamless “plug in and charge” experience, where authentication happens without any additional steps.

Because both methods look and feel similar, they can sometimes be confused. In practice, however, they rely on different technologies, are set up, managed, and billed differently, and are not supported by all charging stations. Availability depends on the individual charging provider, and in some cases, only one of the two methods can be used. Being aware that Plug & Charge and AutoCharge are not the same helps you avoid confusion and ensures a smooth and successful charging experience.

Applicable models
How is Plug & Charge different from AutoCharge?
How can I tell if a charging station supports Plug & Charge or AutoCharge?
What happens if Plug & Charge and AutoCharge are confused?

Applicable models

All BEVs & PHEVs

How is Plug & Charge different from AutoCharge?

Plug & Charge

Plug & Charge is fully integrated into the Porsche ecosystem and is part of the Porsche Charging Service.

Requires an active Porsche Charging Service contract and that a Plug & Charge certificate is installed on the car (For more information, refer to: Plug & Charge for my Macan Electric and Cayenne Electric or Plug & Charge for me Porsche Taycan).

Authentication is performed automatically via a digital contract certificate stored in the car and works for all partners that support Plug & Charge. No need to register your Porsche at each partner individually.

Charging sessions are billed centrally via the Porsche Charging Service.

Managed via the My Porsche app.

AutoCharge

AutoCharge is not part of the Porsche Charging Service. It is always part of the ecosystem of the respective charging point operator (CPO).

Requires separate registration with each supported charging provider.

Your car must be linked individually to each operator.

Charging sessions are billed directly by the respective provider, based on their conditions.

Managed via the operator’s app or platform.

How can I tell if a charging station supports Plug & Charge or AutoCharge?

You can usually identify whether a charging station supports Plug & Charge or AutoCharge in the following ways:

In the My Porsche app (Plug & Charge):

The My Porsche app helps you find charging stations that support Plug & Charge:

Open the My Porsche app on your phone > Tap Map (navigation arrow in the bottom navigation bar) and enter your location > Tap Show charging stations (at the top of the map) > filter the map view to only see chargers that offer Plug & Charge.

With tap on the desired charging station, a dedicated Plug & Charge icon indicates support for this feature.

Examples of charging point operators that support Plug & Charge:

Europe: Ionity, Aral/BP Pulse, Porsche Charging Lounges, Allego, Mer, Ewiva

USA: Electrify America, Tesla

Via the charging provider (AutoCharge):

AutoCharge is managed directly by the respective charging point operator:

Information about AutoCharge availability is typically provided in the provider’s app or website (e.g. EnBW, Fastned).

You can only use AutoCharge with providers where you have registered your car.

At the charging station:

In some cases, you can also identify the supported authentication methods directly at the charging station:

Operators may display supported authentication methods on the screen or via symbols.

However, this information is not always available and may vary depending on the provider.

What happens if Plug & Charge and AutoCharge are confused?

A common situation can occur if you expect automatic authentication to work without being registered for the correct method.

For example, this may happen if you have Plug & Charge enabled and connect your Porsche to a charging station that only supports AutoCharge, but you are not registered with the respective charging provider:

Your car will not attempt to authorize via Plug & Charge, since it is not supported.

If you do not authorize manually (for example via charging card or app), either the charger or the car will time out.

The charging session will not start. This is because the charging station doesn’t support Plug & Charge, and AutoCharge cannot be used without prior registration with the charging provider.

Tip: If you are unsure whether a charging station supports Plug & Charge or AutoCharge, it is recommended to use an alternative authentication method (such as a charging card or app) before connecting your car with the charging station.

Need further help?

If you require further guidance, we can assist you in finding the right solution.

Some of the described products, features, and processes may vary depending on the country, model, and model year.

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