Zaptec enables seamless EV charging with next-gen technology

Zaptec has invested £430,000 in London-based software company Switch to enable Plug&Charge functionality with its EV chargers.

The investment in EV charging software firm Switch will see Zaptec develop its EV chargers with complete end-to-end implementation and compatibility of revolutionary Plug&Charge functionality.

The development of EVs determines which cars have Plug&Charge technology. More EVs are now updating their software to offer Plug&Charge to their owners. The software technology is an international standard (ISO 15118) that defines a vehicle-to-grid (VG2) communication interface for the bi-directional charging of electric vehicles. It involves a communication bridge between the car and the charging station. In the future, this may also mean intermediate storage of electricity.

The system charger Zaptec Pro has been hardware-ready for the past two years, which means Zaptec installations from 2020 and up till now can finally have the future-proof technology brought to life as soon as the EV development supports the modern charging method.

Once finalised, this new software package will enable the majority of Zaptec Pro systems to quickly update to Plug&Charge compatibility. The Pro’s design has been hardware-ready for the past two years, with all installations from 2020 until now compatible with the update.

Guy Haydon, Managing Director at Zaptec UK, commented: “The introduction of Plug&Charge is revolutionising the EV ownership experience – long gone are the hassle and headache of apps and payment information for every new charger you come across. Today’s announcement demonstrates the forward-thinking nature of Zaptec hardware design and the ability to progressively update it with important new features and compatibilities. The best part is that all Zaptec Pro units installed since 2020 are already compatible with Plug&Charge capability. We are looking forward to making it available to our customers across the UK.”