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Prerequisites

Before implementing plug-and-charge capabilities, ensure you have:

  • Created a Smartcar account and registered your application to obtain your client_id and client_secret.
  • Set up the Smartcar Connect flow to authenticate and authorize users.

For more details, refer to the Getting Started Guide.

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How Plug-and-Charge Works

Plug-and-charge allows drivers to initiate charging sessions and handle payments automatically without interacting with external apps or card readers. By integrating with the Smartcar EV Charging API, operators can:

  • Automate billing using vehicle identification data (VIN).
  • Control charging sessions remotely to provide a seamless user experience.

This guide details how to use specific Smartcar API endpoints to implement plug-and-charge functionality for electric vehicles.

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API Endpoints for Plug-and-Charge Integration

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1. Retrieve VIN

The GET /vin endpoint helps link a vehicle to the driver’s account for billing by returning the unique vehicle identification number, used for identifying and authenticating vehicles during plug-and-charge.

VIN
GET /vehicles/{vehicle_id}/vin
Example Response
{
    "vin" : "2SCTESLFHL4SB3S9S"
}

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2. Retrieve Battery State of Charge (SoC)

You can retrieve the current battery level and range through the GET /battery endpoint. The battery’s state of charge is essential for calculating energy consumption during charging.

Range Remaining and SoC
GET /vehicles/{vehicle_id}/battery
Example Response
{
    "percentRemaining": 0.3,
    "range": 40.5
}

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3. Remote Start and Stop Charging

Use the POST /charge endpoint to initiate and end charging sessions remotely.

Start charge
POST /vehicles/{vehicle_id}/charge
    {
        "action" : "START"
    }
Example Response
{
    "message" : "success"
}

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Implementation Workflow

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1.Authorize Vehicle Access:

Ensure the vehicle is authenticated through the Smartcar Connect flow to allow API access.

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2.Check Battery State:

Retrieve the state of charge (SoC) using GET /battery to determine the current battery level. This ensures that charging sessions start when necessary, and it allows for accurate tracking of energy consumption from the beginning of the session.

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3.Identify Vehicle

Retrieve the VIN using GET /vin to identify the vehicle and link it with the driver’s account for billing.

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4.Initiate Charging

Start the charging process remotely using POST /charge/start. The vehicle’s VIN will be used for billing.

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5.Monitor Charging Session

Retrieve the state of charge with GET /battery to monitor energy consumption during the session.

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6.Stop Charging

End the session with POST /charge/stop once the desired energy level is reached or based on scheduled requirements.

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Best Practices

  • Link VIN to Payment Account: Always ensure that the VIN is associated with a valid payment account before initiating plug-and-charge.
  • Monitor SoC Continuously: Regularly monitor the battery’s SOC to determine the energy consumed during charging, ensuring accurate billing.
  • Use Secure API Calls: Ensure secure authentication for requests to restrict charging control to authorized users only.

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FAQs