Allego Launches World’s-First, Most Secure Plug & Charge

On June 9, 2025, Allego N.V. marked a milestone for Europe’s electric vehicle (EV) community by launching the continent’s first broad-scale deployment of Plug & Charge technology built on the OCPP 2.0.1 standard. Designed to be the safest and most seamless EV charging experience in the world, this breakthrough allows drivers to simply plug in and power up—no apps, RFID cards, or additional steps needed.

With the new system, charging becomes fully automatic for compatible vehicles. Once a driver plugs in at any of Allego’s 5,000 Fast and Ultra-Fast charging stations—or partner network sites—the charger and car communicate directly, using encrypted digital certificates to authenticate the session. This ISO 15118-based approach uses mutual TLS and certificate-based security to ensure only authorized vehicles can charge, safeguarding against billing errors and misuse.

“Our mission is to make EV charging at Allego the most intuitive,” said Jean Gadrat, Chief Marketing Officer at Allego. “By removing digital friction points, apps, and cards, we give drivers the confidence to travel further and charge more conveniently. Whether in the city, on the highway, or abroad, Plug & Charge delivers the same secure, one-step charging experience.”

The technology is not only user-friendly but also universal. Built on the open and advanced OCPP 2.0.1 standard, it ensures interoperability across networks—making Allego the first operator in the world to offer a cross-network Plug & Charge experience.

This deployment was made possible through close collaboration with key industry partners including Alpitronic, Hubject, and Ford. Together, these leaders have created a charging experience that’s as smooth as it is secure, further accelerating the shift to electric mobility across Europe.

Allego, with a network spanning more than 35,000 charge points in over 16 countries, continues to lead the way in reliable, sustainable EV charging. By running on 100% renewable energy and staying network-agnostic, Allego ensures drivers can charge safely and confidently—anytime, anywhere.

Learn more about Plug & Charge, compatible vehicles, and station locations at www.allego.eu/plugandcharge.

Payroc, UIC Payworld, and EVEN Recharge are Revolutionizing EV Charging Solutions

Payroc has joined forces with UIC Payworld and EVEN Recharge to introduce a frictionless, out-of-the-box EV charging payment system that offers a plug-and-play experience for both drivers and independent software vendors (ISVs). This collaborative solution brings unmatched convenience to EV users while opening new revenue opportunities for ISVs and their merchant partners.

At the heart of this innovation is Payroc’s robust payment gateway, designed to streamline payment acceptance across virtually any platform. With just a single integration, ISVs can manage multiple payment types and settlement engines—removing complexity from the equation and delivering a smooth user experience. This unified approach enables merchants to handle all payment operations from one central system, reducing technical overhead and improving operational efficiency.

The solution is designed with adaptability in mind. While it meets the standard needs of the EV charging sector out of the box, it can also be tailored to accommodate unique merchant requirements. Payroc’s team works directly with ISVs to evaluate and implement the most suitable configuration, ensuring each deployment delivers maximum impact.

“Most EV charging stations are unattended, so payment options should facilitate self-service with little to no friction,” said Todd Bellino, Director of Payment Facilitation and Integrated Payments at Payroc. “Essentially, our EV charging payment solution is easier and faster to use than the unattended payment solution at a gas station.”

Beyond ease of use, Payroc’s platform includes powerful centralized reporting tools. ISVs gain access to detailed data and business insights, empowering them to refine operations, improve service delivery, and make data-driven decisions. These customizable reports help drive better market strategies and support more secure, scalable growth.

With this solution, Payroc, UIC Payworld, and EVEN Recharge are delivering more than just payment processing—they’re creating a full-service foundation for EV charging commerce. For ISVs, it’s an opportunity to enter the EV space with a turnkey offering that’s ready for immediate deployment and future-ready for long-term success.

To explore how this plug-and-play solution can meet the specific needs of merchant clients, visit payroc.com and connect with the stellar team for a tailored consultation. Highly recommended by EVinfo.net.

EVinfo.net’s Take: Why EV Charging Payment Systems Have Been So Cumbersome—Until Now

For years, electric vehicle (EV) drivers have had to navigate a fragmented, often frustrating landscape of charging payment systems. Unlike the simple tap-and-go experience of fueling at a gas station, charging an EV has historically involved a mess of mobile apps, RFID cards, proprietary accounts, and inconsistent pricing structures. For a technology that’s meant to make driving more convenient and sustainable, charging payment systems have been one of its most glaring shortcomings.

At the core of the problem is a lack of standardization. Many early EV charging networks were built in isolation, with their own software, hardware, and user authentication methods. That meant if you wanted to charge at different stations on a road trip—or even in your own city—you often needed multiple apps, registered accounts, or membership cards. Some stations even required upfront deposits or had complicated pricing structures that weren’t clearly communicated. In short, the experience was the opposite of intuitive.

Another major hurdle has been the disconnect between the car, the charger, and the backend payment platform. Unlike credit card readers at a gas pump, most EV chargers lacked direct integration with payment systems. Instead, drivers had to open an app or swipe an RFID tag to verify their identity—sometimes only to discover the station was out of service, incompatible with their account, or not showing their session correctly. This added unnecessary steps and created a sense of digital friction.

Security and transparency were also sore points. With limited real-time communication between vehicles and chargers, session starts and stops were sometimes misregistered, leading to billing disputes or overcharges. EV drivers often felt like they were being asked to trust a system that didn’t always deliver consistency or clarity.

Fortunately, that’s now changing, thanks to game-changing companies such as Payroc and Allego. New standards like ISO 15118 and OCPP 2.0.1 are enabling Plug & Charge capabilities, where the vehicle itself handles secure authentication and payment automatically. With innovations like Allego’s new cross-network Plug & Charge system in Europe, drivers no longer need to juggle apps or cards—just plug in, and charging starts securely and instantly.

The transition to a frictionless EV charging future is finally underway. But the road to get here has been paved with years of complexity, technical fragmentation, and a lack of cooperation between automakers, networks, and infrastructure providers. The good news? That era is ending—and EV drivers everywhere stand to benefit.