GM is making EV charging a LOT easier

This is car news rather than home upgrade news, but it touches anyone with a home EV charger or an electric vehicle. GM has announced two features aimed at making public charging simpler for drivers of its electric vehicles, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC models.

The first is Energy Pass, which combines charging networks into one system inside the GM app you already use. Instead of juggling separate apps and payment info for different charging companies, you get one login and one stored payment method that works across supported networks. At launch that includes Tesla's Supercharger network, IONNA, Electrify America, and ChargePoint, with EVgo coming soon. GM says this covers close to 70% of fast chargers in the US. Enrollment is free, and you only pay for the electricity you use. The app also shows a live map of chargers, ratings, pricing, connector types, and charging history.

The second feature, Plug and Charge, lets you plug in at a compatible charger and start charging automatically, with payment handled in the background. No phone, card, or app needed at the charger itself. It is already working at IONNA and ChargePoint locations, and GM says support for Tesla Superchargers will come later through a software update for its NACS-compatible vehicles. Both features apply to public charging away from home rather than to home charging equipment.