- Hyundai EVs can now charge as easily as Teslas with tighter app integration and plug-and-charge features.
- The update rolls out for the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9 and all future electric models.
- It also covers some of the major charging stations in the U.S., including the vast Tesla Supercharger network.
Charging an electric vehicle should be as easy as gassing up. Right now, it’s not. Juggling buggy apps, clunky payment systems and glitchy card readers is still common at many charging stations. Teslas have long stood out for how effortless they are to charge, thanks to their high vertical integration and plug-and-charge feature. Now Hyundai is going down the same road with its Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9 and all future electric models.
The automaker on Tuesday announced two small software upgrades that will have a big difference on road trips. The MyHyundai smartphone app with the company’s Bluelink-connected car service now integrates four U.S. EV charging networks: Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint, EVGo and Ionna. That means you no longer need four separate apps to start a session. Just use MyHyundai for all of them. Or simply continue using the credit card reader on the charging dispenser like you used to before—if it’s not broken.
The 2025 Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 come natively equipped with the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port and have access to thousands of Superchargers nationwide. Older model-year Hyundai EVs also have Supercharger access, but with a NACS-to-CCS adapter.
Users can now initiate and monitor all critical steps that happen before, during and after the sessions. That includes locating stations within those networks, navigating to them and then activating the sessions through the app. The app also supports route planning. Once owners set a destination, the vehicle will recommend optimal charging stops along the route and send it from the smartphone to the car’s navigation screen.
That’s not all. The app also allows owners to add credit cards. That means the system can now handle payments seamlessly.
That’s the app side of the upgrades. Hyundai now offers plug and charge, a feature that’s been on Teslas for years. With this capability, you simply drive up to a charger and plug the cable into the connector. The vehicle handles everything else. If it works as promised, this could be a huge stress relief by minimizing the steps involved in charging.
Photo by: Hyundai
Not all Hyundai EVs get the upgrades just yet. The Kona Electric isn’t included, so for now the changes apply to the Ioniq range. But Hyundai said more electric models will get the updates in the future. Also worth noting: plug and charge is only available at Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint and Ionna stations. It doesn’t work with EVgo and other networks yet.
That said, the app interface seems clean. On the home screen, there’s a big oval-shaped icon labeled “Find Charging Station.” Upon clicking that, the app will showcase nearby charging stations, or along a route if you enter a destination. You can then choose from several filters, like charger type (slow or fast) and type of connector (NACS or CCS). Owners can then simply hit “Send To Car” after which the route planning appears on the infotainment screen.
Hyundai EVs already had native route planning, but this tighter app integration should theoretically make the charging experience more seamless. It’s a welcome change, but the next big challenge will be to ensure it works as promised.
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