ChargePoint unveils Omni Port retrofit for all EV connectors
According to ChargePoint, more than 60 per cent of publicly available networked AC charging ports in North America run on its platform. By equipping these with Omni Port, the company says it can resolve connector compatibility issues for a large proportion of EV drivers. The solution, first introduced in April 2024, comes as standard in new hardware at no extra cost and is now also available as a retrofit upgrade.
The company presented Omni Port a year ago. It allows any new EV to connect to a ChargePoint charger without an adapter, eliminating the need to dedicate spaces to a specific plug type. According to the company, Omni Port supports all relevant connector standards, including J1772, CCS1 and NACS, and is designed to remove uncertainty for drivers.
The system is designed to automate the charging process. Drivers register their vehicle type in the ChargePoint app, initiate charging, and the station deploys the correct connector automatically. “This is great for drivers,” ChargePoint explains in a product video. “They don’t have to worry about what type of connector it serves. They can come up, and it will automatically deploy the connector that matches their vehicle.”
For operators, the upgrade path is modular, allowing station owners to install Omni Port by replacing only a small set of components rather than full hardware. ChargePoint highlights this as a way to reduce cost and downtime while maintaining service. The company notes that businesses no longer need to plan around which connector types to provide at which locations, as a single solution serves all new EVs.
“As many automakers shift toward the NACS charging port, charging providers need to serve all of their customers – regardless of their vehicle’s connector type,” said Hossein Kazemi, Chief Technology Officer of Hardware at ChargePoint. “Omni Port enables customers to future proof their charging infrastructure and eliminates the hassle of dedicating parking spaces to a specific connector type. For EV drivers, it ensures they will encounter the connector type they need to charge at any Omni Port location.”
The system is designed to automate the charging process. Drivers register their vehicle type in the ChargePoint app, initiate charging, and the station deploys the correct connector automatically. “This is great for drivers,” ChargePoint explains in a product video. “They don’t have to worry about what type of connector it serves. They can come up, and it will automatically deploy the connector that matches their vehicle.”
For operators, the upgrade path is modular, allowing station owners to install Omni Port by replacing only a small set of components rather than full hardware. ChargePoint highlights this as a way to reduce cost and downtime while maintaining service. The company notes that businesses no longer need to plan around which connector types to provide at which locations, as a single solution serves all new EVs.
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