SK Signet Becomes First Korean Charger Manufacturer to Commercialize PnC Technology

SEOUL, South Korea (August 4, 2025) — SK Signet, a South Korean manufacturer of electric vehicle chargers, said on Sunday that it had signed an agreement with Hubject, the world’s largest electric vehicle charging network operator, to deploy Plug-and-Charge (PnC) technology. The move makes SK Signet the first domestic charger manufacturer to adopt Hubject’s PnC solution, enhancing charging security and user convenience in line with global standards.

Hubject was founded in 2012 by major auto makers including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Group, alongside global energy giants such as Germany's EnBW and E.ON and Italy’s Enel X, as well as parts and technology suppliers including Bosch and Siemens. The company operates the world’s largest e-roaming platform and has played a leading role in the standardization of PnC technology. It is widely regarded as the dominant platform provider in the PnC market, with the broadest global coverage and market share.

PnC is a next generation certification technology that allows EV drivers to initiate charging and complete payment simply by connecting the charging cable, without the need for mobile applications, RFID cards or additional authentication steps. Built on the international standard ISO 15118-2, the technology enables secure communication and authentication between the vehicle and the charger.

Compared with earlier “Auto Charging” solutions, PnC represents a significant advance in security. Auto Charging systems typically rely on vehicle identifiers or app-based user information, offering convenience but exposing inherent vulnerabilities including the risk of duplication, hacking or tampering of authentication information.

By contrast, Plug-and-Charge is based on a public key infrastructure (PKI) with a centralized certificate management system and encrypted communication between the vehicle and the charger. This architecture allows unauthorized devices to be automatically detected and blocked, substantially improving security and integrity throughout the charging process. The technology also supports both OCPP 1.6J and the latest OCPP 2.0.1 standard, further strengthening communication security and interoperability between chargers and backend management systems.

SK Signet said the agreement is also expected to address one of the most persistent customer pain points: payment issues, which account for roughly 24% of customer complaints. The introduction of PnC is expected to significantly reduce those issues, following extensive testing across a wide range of real-world payment scenarios to ensure system robustness.

Hubject’s e-roaming network enables drivers to access charging stations operated by more than 1,250 affiliated brands worldwide under a single contract. With this partnership, SK Signet chargers will be part of that network. Once PnC is deployed across the company’s full product lineup, Hubject users will be able to charge and pay automatically at SK Signet chargers worldwide, without additional registration or authentication.

“Plug-and-Charge is a core technology that enhances both security and interoperability between chargers and a wide range of vehicles,” said Kim Jong-woo, CEO of SK Signet. “Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen our global competitiveness while delivering a safer and more seamless charging experience for users.”

Christian Hahn, CEO of Hubject, said the partnership signals the direction the industry must take to accelerate global EV adoption. He added, “SK Signet brings strong technical capabilities and global market competitiveness, while Hubject offers proven expertise in Plug-and-Charge technology. Together, we believe this collaboration will further enhance the reliability of charging infrastructure worldwide.”