ChargePoint, the world’s largest EV charging network, announced that, for the first time, drivers can start charging any EV by tapping an iPhone, Android Phone or Apple Watch on any ChargePoint charger.
The new “tap to charge” feature works at more than 40,000 ChargePoint charging spots across North America, making ChargePoint the first company to empower EV drivers to start a charge by tapping their phone or Apple Watch. ChargePoint is also the first company to enable charging an EV with Apple Watch.
Global EV sales continue to grow by double digits year over year, with over 30 EV models now available for drivers to choose from. As more and more communities incentivize drivers to go electric, EV penetration will continue to grow and drivers will seek out the easiest and most convenient way to charge. Tap to charge radically simplifies the EV charging experience and allows new and experienced EV drivers to easily start a charge by tapping their phone on any ChargePoint station.
“ChargePoint is committed to getting every driver behind the wheel of an EV, and a major part of achieving that goal is making it as easy as possible for drivers to charge,” said Colleen Jansen, chief marketing officer, ChargePoint, Inc. “Tap to charge delivers on that commitment and fosters EV adoption by providing the easiest way for drivers to charge wherever they live, work and play. The ownership experience is key to broader EV adoption, and trailblazing features like tap to charge make fueling your EV much more simple and convenient than the gas vehicle it likely replaced.”
To use tap to charge, drivers with Android version 4.4 or higher simply enable NFC, log in to the ChargePoint app, unlock the phone screen and tap their phone on the station to charge. Drivers with iPhone 6 or higher or Apple Watch create a ChargePoint Pass by pressing “Add Pass to Apple Wallet” in the ChargePoint app, then place their finger on Touch ID and tap the phone on the station to charge. Apple Watch owners just double-click the side button and hold the watch near the contactless reader.
Any EV driver can find places to charge on a variety of charging networks in the ChargePoint app, which can start a charge at more than 40,000 ChargePoint stations across North America. It takes just minutes to set up a free ChargePoint account and start charging right away with tap to charge. In addition to using tap to charge, drivers can charge using a free ChargePoint RFID card (available with account setup) or by pressing the “Start Charge” button in the app.
For more information or to get the ChargePoint app, visit https://www.chargepoint.com/drivers/mobile/.
