Charging standards

There are a large number of applicable standards in the field of electro mobility. International standards that define the requirements of all equipment to ensure safe use. Consider standards that apply when developing components such as the inlet and outlet plugs used for charging. Charging points, the electric vehicle and communication interfaces are also subject to imposed standards. Due to the many and rapid developments in electro mobility, some of these standards are still under development. This is the case, for instance, with the IEC 61851 standard for conductive charging.

Charging topology

IEC 61851-21-2:2018 defines EMC requirements for all off-board components or equipment of such systems used to supply or charge electric vehicles by means of conductive current transfer (CPT), with a nominal input voltage, according to IEC 60038:2009, up to 1,000V AC or 1,500V DC and an output voltage up to 1,000V AC or 1,500V DC.

IEC 61851-22: This part of IEC 61851, together with part one, gives the requirements for AC charging stations for electric vehicles for conductive connection to an electric vehicle, with AC supply voltages according to IEC 60038 up to 690 V.

IEC 61851-23:2014, specifies the requirements for direct current electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, here also called “DC charger”, for conductive connection to the vehicle, with AC or DC input voltage up to 1,000V AC. and up to 1,500V DC. according to IEC 60038. It provides the general requirements for control communication between a DC EV charging station and an EV.

IEC 61980-1:2020 applies to the power supply device for wireless charging of electric road vehicles at standard supply voltages according to IEC 60038 up to 1 000 V AC and up to 1 500 V DC. Electric road vehicles (EVs) are road vehicles, including plug-in hybrid road vehicles (PHEVs) that draw all or part of their energy from on-board rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS). This document also applies to wireless power transfer equipment (WPT) powered by on-site storage systems (e.g. buffer batteries).

IEC 61439-7:2022 defines the specific requirements for assemblies for the following applications: marinas, camping sites, market squares and electric vehicle charging stations as follows:

  1. Assemblies whose rated voltage does not exceed 1,000V AC or 1,500V DC;
  2. Assemblies intended for use in connection with the generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electrical energy and for the control of equipment that consumes electrical energy;
  3. Assemblies operated by ordinary persons (e.g. for plugging in and unplugging electrical equipment);
  4. Assemblies intended for installation and use in market squares, marinas, campsites and other similar locations accessible to the public, including temporary installations;
  5. Assemblies intended for electric vehicle charging stations (AEVCS) for mode 3 and mode 4. They are designed to integrate functionality and additional requirements for conductive electric vehicle charging systems according to IEC 61851-1:2017.

IEC 61851-24:2014, together with IEC 61851-23, applies to digital communication between a DC EV charging station and an electric road vehicle (EV) for controlling DC charging, with an AC or DC input voltage up to 1,000 V AC and up to 1,500V DC for the conductive charging procedure. The EV charging mode is mode 4 according to IEC 61851-23. Annexes A, B and C provide descriptions of digital communications for DC charging control, specific to DC EV charging systems A, B and C as defined in Part 23.

Communications
IEC 61850 is a standard for communication networks and systems in substations. It is based on the Ethernet protocol and is a standardised communication method developed to support integrated systems consisting of self-describing IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices) from different suppliers networked to perform real-time security, control, measurement and monitoring functions. The new ISO 15118 standard provides the necessary information exchange directly between the vehicle and the charging infrastructure. This information can then be transmitted to the EMSP and the power grid, ensuring safe and optimal charging that meets everyone’s needs.

Accessories
IEC 62196-1:2022 applies to EV plugs, EV sockets, vehicle connectors, vehicle inlets, hereinafter referred to as “accessories”, and to electric vehicle (EV) cable assemblies intended for use in conductive charging systems containing control devices, with a nominal operating voltage not exceeding:

  1. 690V AC, 50 Hz to 60 Hz, at a rated current of up to 250A;
  2. 1,500V DC at a rated current of up to 800A.

IEC 62196-2 applies to plugs, sockets, vehicle connectors and vehicle sockets with pins and contact tubes of standardised configurations, hereinafter referred to as accessories. They have a rated operating voltage of up to 480 V AC, 50 Hz to 60 Hz, and a rated current of up to 63 A three-phase or 70 A single-phase, for use in conductive charging of electric vehicles.

IEC 62196-3 applies to vehicle couplers with pins and contact tubes of standardised configuration, hereinafter also referred to as “accessories”, intended for use in conductive charging systems for electric vehicles containing control equipment, with rated operating voltage up to 1,500V DC and rated current up to 250A, and 1,000V AC and rated current up to 250A. This part of IEC 62196 applies to high-power DC interfaces and combined AC/DC interfaces of vehicle couplers as specified in IEC 62196-1:2014, and intended for use in conductive charging systems for circuits as specified in IEC 61851-1:2010, and IEC 61851-23:2014.


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