[FAQ] - Porsche's missing FAQ - What does ChargePoint integration to myPorsche app gain me?

[daveo4EV]

There is some truth to this, however maybe you missed my post above indicating that ChargePoint integration is most likely a stepping stone toward Tesla supercharger access.

no I read that - but did not mention it- no judgement - I'm inclined to agree with you - I'll be unsurprised if this is how you activate a Tesla Supercharger session…but I'm only 80% of the way there…and I hope you can still do it via Tesla app

_IF_ they do it the way they did charge point - I'll also be disappointed - the charge point integration does not become a proxy for your ChargePoint account and it's associated settings - rather it simply "adds" ChargePoint to the list of charging networks Porsche Charging service has a billing aggregation relationship with…

I prefer it to be a proxy to my actual personal ChargePoint account via O-Auth or some other authentication proxy because then I get all the capabilities and profile information from my actual ChargePoint account…

we'll see…but yeah most likely this will how you get North American Tesla supercharging - it will be added as a network you have access to via Porsche Charging Service.

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[sor]

Yeah it’s a bit weird but I’m just following the evidence - there is no way to activate non-magic dock superchargers in the Tesla app today for onboarded manufacturers, and other vehicle manufacturers are accessing superchargers through their own apps via ChargePoint

It’s entirely possible that you may be able to activate supercharges both ways down the road. Perhaps it depends on how much control the manufacturer wants to exert over it - if they want to keep the customer in their own software ecosystem or allow them to to install a number of apps for every network(or save them from installing apps for each network).

Perhaps I’m being generous because this reasoning would actually make the ChargePoint addition make sense

 

[alvaro]

Thanks for FAQ I couldn’t figure this out. I’m considering a preview of what it will be like when they activate Tesla. I can avoid an account over there.

 

[daveo4EV]

ok I set this up and charged @ a local L2 ChargePoint station in my local area - here is what I learned…


Question: what is this?
Answer: June 2024 (yes almost a year ago) Porsche and Chargepoint announced Porsche Charging Service integration. The announcement was vague then, and now that we have the manifestation of what it means I would suggest we all collectively "yawn" 🥱 [opinion].

https://www.chargepoint.com/about/n..._nokeo4LiQsQYVLqURo33buULEOG3Ec0xQIwDk1nGTPI1
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_US/..._chargepoint_into_charging_service-36491.html

Opinion: This was announced on June 13th, 2024 - almost 1 year ago today. It was vague then, and now that it's 'delivered' it barely warrants any notice. Announcing something like this and then taking almost an entire year before delivering the concrete goods, and then the delivery is a minor-win is simply disappointing. They should only engage in announcements such as this when they are ready to deliver the actual feature. Just more evidence of the weakness of Porsche's North American charging game.

Question: what does setup of a ChargePoint account in myPorsche app accomplish?
Answer: As a Porsche Charging Service customer you may now choose to use the myPorsche app to start/manage a ChargePoint charging session rather than having to have a separate account w/ChargePoint (and a separate app) - billing/activation will all take place via your existing Porsche Charging Service account (and it's associated billing process).

Question: Is there any 1 year included/free charging service associated with this?
Answer: As of today - no! The 1 year 'free' charging is not a Porsche Charging Service "thing". It is an agreement w/Electrify America and delivered via the Porsche Charging Service. As of now this appears only to be an app/account/billing consolidation for access to the ChargePoint network. But you will still be charged for charging sessions w/ChargePoint network.

Question: Does this allow me to use Plug&Charge w/ChargePoint chargers
Answer: No - the current Plug&charge implementation embedded in your Macan only supports EA in North America and can not support "multiple" charging networks
Answer #2: it wouldn't work anyways because ChargePoint cables are "locked" to the charging stall until they are released by activating a session - so you can't plug in until you've accomplished session activation - chicken meet egg!

Question: Was it easy to setup?
Asnwer: pretty easy - there is a "setup" process for ChargePoint account, but it's not a "real" charge point account - just a confirmation of billing/address information associated with you Porsche Account.

Question: is this an actual advantage?
Answer: maybe but for me personaly no - I already have a charge point account, and I can use the following methods to activate a session:

• ChargePoint app
• RFID charge point card - * works offline
• my phone w/ChargePoint card in my digital Wallet - * works offline
• my watch w/ChargePoint card in my digital Wallet - * works offline
• Plugshare via account integration
• tap2pay credit card @ the station? not sure about this one!!
• and now my Porsche App

Question: is the Porsche ChargePoint account associated with your existing ChargePoint account?
Answer: no - it appears just to "add" charge Point as an option to your North American Porsche charging services contract - there is no "binding/access" to any existing ChargePoint account

Question: is there any advantage to using the Porsche app to activate your charging session?
Answer: from a pure cost point of view - no - the session I activated was identical cost to what I would've paid per-kWh vs. using the chargepoint app directly. This may or may not remain true over time and is subject to any agreements between Porsche Cars North America and ChargePoint. Stay tuned to future press releases from either party to see if they choose to leverage their integration with spiffs or discounts. Based on the charging session I performed today the billed rate and idle fees where identical to the tariffs I would've paid if the session were activated via the ChargePoint app and my existing chargePoint account.

Question: My existing ChargePoint account has "connections" that allow me access to client/employer based "restricted" ChargePoint chargers. Can I use the Porsche integration w/ChargePoint to access these restricted ChargePoint network EV Chargers?
Answer: as of today - no! You still must maintain your own separate ChargePoint account with its associated "connections" for authorization/permission to use ChargePoint "restricted" EV chargers. [opinion] this renders this integration nearly pointless in this author's opinion since many employers use ChargePoint for parking lot EV charging and they require "connection" for authorization restrictions to existing employees- YMMV.

Question: I own a ChargePoint flex residential charger or access one periodically at family, friends, and some businesses. What does this do for access to those chargers and or their charging data/statistics?
Answer: Nothing - it does nothing and has nothing to do with ChargePoints L2 residential chargers.

Question: Do I now have access to charging stations I previously did not have the ability to use?
Answer: No. You simple now have the choice as to how to initiate and pay for charging session with the ChargePoint EV charging network. Previously you had to use the ChargePoint app (or any other mechanism ChargePoint allowed). With this integration you now have the choice of using ChargePoint app directly or myPorsche app w/Porsche charging service contract. This is simply an alternative activation mechanism. You've always been able to access and use these charging stations. But not via the myPorsche app's integrated charging support.

Summary: this is a "minor" win in my opinion in that you can now use the Porsche app to activate charging sessions for EA and Chargepoint- and have to have only one billing association for both networks - no separate account-name/password and common app based activation process for charging your Macan/Taycan

• Launch the "myPorsch app"
• tap "maps"
• tap "charging"
• find the charging station you're at - tap on it
• click a few times on the screen and boom the ChargePoint station cord is unlocked and you plug in to charge now that the session has been activated via your Porsche Charging Service account.

if you do not want a separate EA and ChargePoint account and just want to have all your charging for these two networks billed to your Porsche Charging Service contract - this is the setup for you…

I rate this a "minor" win, but honestly managing the chargePoint accounts separately is no big deal, activation via RFID is faster, easier than having to use Porsche app (I can use my phone or watch) - *. And the Porsche app's "number of steps" for activating the session is far greater than the number of steps vs…

• using the native ChargePoint app
• by passing the app all together and just using one of my connected devices

Kudos to Porsche for doing this - but it's honestly a minor win and not a game changer - it's slightly easier if you don't want to manage two separate billing accounts and like using the Porsche app as your charge session manager.

photo below is the charge point station charging my Macan - session was activated via Porsche Charging Services contract in the myPorsche app

my $0.02 YMMV

returning to this briefly…

I would be much more impressed if this integration allowed me to start/managed my charging entirely with the vehicle's in car software (on screen with the PCM) - now that would be an advancement and set the stage for this to be true with all "Porsche charging service" integrated charging networks…

integration via Porsche Charging Service and being able to use nothing but the car + PCM software to start a charging session would be a worthwhile "update"…

just random thoughts I had today - go back to ignoring me.

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