Electric Car: Easier Charging with Autocharge (Electra)

Electra, the charging station company, now offers a new charging system for their stations.

Charging an electric vehicle can sometimes be challenging: searching for functional stations, dealing with brand-specific charging cards, charging times depending on station types… It can quickly become a headache for an electric car driver.

Electra aims to simplify this process with its new system called Autocharge, which will identify your vehicle once connected to the station via the charger. Autocharge will be offered to you during your next recharge Electra. You will simply need to activate it with a click, plug in the connector, and then follow the guidance.

How does the Autocharge system work?

The station and brand will register your vehicle and payment details for the first time. Then, during your subsequent electric vehicle charges, you just need to connect directly to the station. No card or app will be needed, as your vehicle is already registered in the Electra system.

For payment, simply reconnect the electrical connector to the station. Electra makes it even easier if you have Apple’s CarPlay system. You can reserve your station in advance and be guided to it from your car’s screen. Then, just connect the plug to recharge and pay automatically.

The boom of electric charging stations in France

As of February 2023, France had over 90,000 electric charging stations. This reflects the French people’s willingness to use stations on highways and in major cities to recharge their electric vehicles.

Moreover, the electric charging station market is diversifying and seeing several operators. Tesla and Mercedes are the two private manufacturers with their own stations. Ionity, Fastned, Izivia, and Electra are four active operators providing fast charging stations in France.

Finally, technology continues to advance for charging station types. For an ordinary driver, a charging station is not read in kWh but rather in charging time. Indeed, when you want to travel in an electric vehicle, it’s important to know how long you will need to charge to plan your day accordingly.

This is why Electra and other operators provide information about your vehicle’s theoretical charging power. Your car will charge faster with higher power in kWh. However, note that not all electric cars are compatible with high-powered stations (275 kWh and above). You should check what your vehicle can handle to avoid damage.

This remains an area for development in the coming years for Electra and its competitors. They face competition from resurgence in cars fueled by synthetic fuel. Food for thought…

Also read: The Competition Authority will take a position in 2024 on charging stations