Remote charging procedure questions.

[Singletracker]

Okay. I’ve had my R1T for a month and a half, charging only at home. Having never charged remotely, I have no idea about the procedures or routines for remote charging with the different vendors. I signed up for the ChargePoint connection via my Rivian home page, assuming that created some sort of ChargePoint account and would be relatively seamless. However, when I go to sign into ChargePoint, it requires me to create an account. -new user name/password. Do I need to do this and will it somehow then connect to my Rivian account? Basically, I have no idea what I’m doing. I need to get out and give this stuff a trial run prior to really needing it. As far as ChargePoint goes, any incites into this setup would be appreciated. Thanks.

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[R.I.P.]

Okay. I’ve had my R1T for a month and a half, charging only at home. Having never charged remotely, I have no idea about the procedures or routines for remote charging with the different vendors. I signed up for the ChargePoint connection via my Rivian home page, assuming that created some sort of ChargePoint account and would be relatively seamless. However, when I go to sign into ChargePoint, it requires me to create an account. -new user name/password. Do I need to do this and will it somehow then connect to my Rivian account? Basically, I have no idea what I’m doing. I need to get out and give this stuff a trial run prior to really needing it. As far as ChargePoint goes, any incites into this setup would be appreciated. Thanks.

Get the charge point app, and the EV go app, and the electrify America app, and the app for any other charging provider you expect to encounter. Create accounts in each app, and set up your payment through a credit card. Of course, do this and test this before you try to go on any trip. Anytime you encounter a new provider that you don't have an app for, take the time to download the app, create the account and information.

Someday it may be different, but for now that's how non-Tesla charging works.

 

[Singletracker]

That’s pretty much what I figured, but kinda curious what the Rivian/ChargePoint connection is.

 

[SANZC02]

That’s pretty much what I figured, but kinda curious what the Rivian/ChargePoint connection is.

I never figured out the value of chargepoint with Rivian, they do not have plug and charge setup.

They do have plug and charge setup with EVgo, it works fine for me but several people seem to not be able to get it to work.

I actually use EA most of the time I travel, again a lot of people seem to have issues with EA but it has worked fine for me as well.

Also use ABRP (A better route planner) for planning your trips. Worked great for me driving cross country.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Get the charge point app, and the EV go app, and the electrify America app, and the app for any other charging provider you expect to encounter. Create accounts in each app, and set up your payment through a credit card. Of course, do this and test this before you try to go on any trip. Anytime you encounter a new provider that you don't have an app for, take the time to download the app, create the account and information.

Someday it may be different, but for now that's how non-Tesla charging works.

Excellent advice! I would add to download plug share app, and ABRP... Plan ahead where you will charge and make sure you have all needed apps.

Right now only Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) and I believe EVGO are the only teo that support plug and charge.

Like everything else it will improve with time or Tesla will put them out of business.

 

[Singletracker]

Interesting feedback. So, if I understand correctly, as a Rivian owner, I can plug into an EVGO charger, my vehicle will be identified, along with my billing info stored with Rivian. I can then charge up without having to produce any other payment input. I thought this would be the plan with ChargePoint, considering Rivian seems to be supporting them on my Rivian site.

If I set up accounts with other providers, will my vehicle be automatically identified and my established accounts billed accordingly? If this is not the case, It would sure be nice to just wave my iPhone or Watch to pay, as I do virtually everywhere else. I’m not into sticking my CC into a machine and having it skimmed, then finding that it has been used some place I have never been. Been there, done that.

 

[SANZC02]

Interesting feedback. So, if I understand correctly, as a Rivian owner, I can plug into an EVGO charger, my vehicle will be identified, along with my billing info stored with Rivian. I can then charge up without having to produce any other payment input. I thought this would be the plan with ChargePoint, considering Rivian seems to be supporting them on my Rivian site.

If I set up accounts with other providers, will my vehicle be automatically identified and my established accounts billed accordingly? If this is not the case, It would sure be nice to just wave my iPhone or Watch to pay, as I do virtually everywhere else. I’m not into sticking my CC into a machine and having it skimmed, then finding that it has been used some place I have never been. Been there, done that.

Right now plug and charge is only supported through EVgo and Rivian RAN networks. Supposed to see more over time.

I personally use the apps to start my charge sessions at other places like EA, just do Not have faith the scanners are not compromised on the units and feel the app is more secure.

 

[puman00]

Take it to your local fast charger and try it out! The folks above are correct, download the app, pull into a charger, open the app, plug in, and start charging from the app. If you have difficulty connecting via the app, most of them also have a card for your smartphone’s wallet that you can use to start charging.

I’d also recommend checking out some YouTube to see what roadtrips are like too. Out of spec motoring is one of the best. I started with this video:

 

[Singletracker]

A card for my iPhone’s Wallet! Yeah! Now we’re talking! That’s the missing link that I was not clear on. I use my iPhone or Watch to pay for almost everything.

My issue with trying any of these procedures out is, I don’t really have any fast chargers near where I live. It’s not like I can run down to the corner and give it a whirl. Anyway, all this info has been quite enlightening. Thanks to all.

 

[Destreyf]

I didn't see it directly addressed, but for Plug and Charge to work on the EVgo chargers you have to set it up on the mobile app, once you put your VIN in, it'll have you plug into an EVGo station to do the provisioning. I am assuming that this is where they issue your vehicle a certificate to identify it with your account.

This process is what some people have had trouble with, but once you're setup it works pretty good (just used EVGo yesterday with Plug and Charge).

 

[COdogman]

I rarely have to charge away from home, but regardless of how easy it is to pay at the chargers near you, I would choose where I charged by how reliable the chargers are. In my area the EA chargers are actually very reliable, but that is definitely not the case everywhere.

The plug/ charge/ pay thing is very nice, but if the chargers are all garbage it doesn't matter IMHO.

 

[CharonPDX]

I didn't see it directly addressed, but for Plug and Charge to work on the EVgo chargers you have to set it up on the mobile app, once you put your VIN in, it'll have you plug into an EVGo station to do the provisioning. I am assuming that this is where they issue your vehicle a certificate to identify it with your account.

This process is what some people have had trouble with, but once you're setup it works pretty good (just used EVGo yesterday with Plug and Charge).

EVgo’s “Plug and charge” doesn’t issue anything to the vehicle. The CCS protocol includes a “networking” component that means your vehicle has a MAC address like every other network card.

EVgo doesn’t do any “matching”. When you set up Autocharge, you tell the app “I’m plugging my vehicle into charger *xyz* now.” EVgo’s servers then match your account to whatever MAC address plugs into that charger. If you picked the wrong charger, and someone else is plugged in, you’ll associate their vehicle with your account.

The VIN is irrelevant. That’s just them asking for their records. In theory; it should be possible to make a “CCS MAC spoofer” that allows you to pretend to be someone else’s vehicle. I haven’t heard of anyone actually doing that yet; so it’s *probably* safe. For now.

 

[Destreyf]

EVgo’s “Plug and charge” doesn’t issue anything to the vehicle. The CCS protocol includes a “networking” component that means your vehicle has a MAC address like every other network card.

EVgo doesn’t do any “matching”. When you set up Autocharge, you tell the app “I’m plugging my vehicle into charger *xyz* now.” EVgo’s servers then match your account to whatever MAC address plugs into that charger. If you picked the wrong charger, and someone else is plugged in, you’ll associate their vehicle with your account.

The VIN is irrelevant. That’s just them asking for their records. In theory; it should be possible to make a “CCS MAC spoofer” that allows you to pretend to be someone else’s vehicle. I haven’t heard of anyone actually doing that yet; so it’s *probably* safe. For now.

From what I understand, in order to do proper Plug & Charge, the system is based on Certificates and root trust: https://www.switch-ev.com/blog/basics-of-plug-and-charge granted, this is just one way to do it, so it's possible that the current US charger operators are taking shortcuts, but if you follow the process outlined in that article it should be theoretically impossible to emulate/spoof the vehicle's credentials.

I am not implying this is how they're doing it presently, but as I understood it, the way they prevent spoofing is based on certicates that have a separate root/trust that handles the issuing. This probably happens outside of the charger handshake, but the charger itself has to get a copy of the identification info to associate your account.

 

[CharonPDX]

From what I understand, in order to do proper Plug & Charge, the system is based on Certificates and root trust: https://www.switch-ev.com/blog/basics-of-plug-and-charge granted, this is just one way to do it, so it's possible that the current US charger operators are taking shortcuts, but if you follow the process outlined in that article it should be theoretically impossible to emulate/spoof the vehicle's credentials.

I am not implying this is how they're doing it presently, but as I understood it, the way they prevent spoofing is based on certicates that have a separate root/trust that handles the issuing. This probably happens outside of the charger handshake, but the charger itself has to get a copy of the identification info to associate your account.

That is proper CCS Plug and Charge. EA is using that.

EVgo ain’t. One benefit of EVgo’s method is that it doesn’t need the *vehicle* to support CCS P&C.

 

[Destreyf]

That is proper CCS Plug and Charge. EA is using that.

EVgo ain’t. One benefit of EVgo’s method is that it doesn’t need the *vehicle* to support CCS P&C.

Got it! That makes a lot of sense. I haven't looked too much into the charging networks themselves.

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