A major electric-vehicle public charging network provider introduced a dual charging port that it says accommodates EVs by any maker.
ChargePoint says its Omni Port is the “only publicly available solution to solve North America’s EV connector confusion across AC and DC charging” because it allows charging of all makes at one station by incorporating the “most prevalent connector types.”
“Drivers can expect a frictionless charging experience when using Omni Port, simply needing to enter their vehicle’s make and model into the ChargePoint app, tapping to charge, and allowing the charging station to automatically release the correct connector type,” the company said in a press release.
Those who choose not to use ChargePoint’s application can select their EVs’ connector types on charger screens.
Different automakers have settled on one EV charging connector type or another in the past couple of years, some going with Tesla’s North American Charging System and others opting for the Combined Charging System. A coalition of brands even formed their own joint venture last year to build a charging network that supports both types.
Public charger availability and ease of use has been a key obstacle to mass EV adoption, so innovations and developments that resolve that aspect of EV ownership could help smooth the road to wider consumer transition from gas-powered models. In fact, a recent report emphasized that stations offering chargers that incorporate multiple standards are essential to widespread EV adoption.
ChargePoint says Omni Port eliminates the need for EV owners to carry an adapter with them to make sure they’re able to charge on the road if the charging stations they visit support connectors different from their vehicles’.
