DEKRA Product Testing
Discover what we can do for you with our charging station tests for EVs
DEKRA Product Testing
Discover what we can do for you with our charging station tests for EVs
Charging station test for EVs
Charging station test: the key to reliable electric mobility
Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly being used in many countries. A completely new industry has emerged. To keep up with the rapid developments, we see more and more charging stations on the streets. These have to comply with many different standards and guidelines. How can the market ensure the conformity of charging infrastructure? And what are the most important aspects to consider while developing charging stations for EVs? Find out how our charging station testing and certification services can help you get started. Naturally, we keep a close eye on the latest regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Ensuring safety and efficiency with in-depth charging station testing
Keeping all these electric vehicles on the road requires the development and expansion of the charging infrastructure. Many businesses are making sizable investments to achieve this aim. The hi-tech nature of the industry and the diverse requirements have quickly created a complex situation. Consequently, this technology is being subject to numerous requirements when it comes to testing and certification. On top of this, the requirements for vehicles are now converging with those in respect of electrical devices. DEKRA can support you with charging station testing and certification services.
The importance of powerful charging stations
Standard charging stations are mainly installed in residential areas and urban environments. For example, in private driveways and public car parks. They work on alternating current and consume relatively little energy. As a result, it can take hours before an electric vehicle is fully recharged. That’s not a problem for users who can charge from home or who travel short distances.
High-capacity charging stations can be found increasingly along our highways. These enable drivers to charge their cars more quickly on longer journeys. These fast charging stations use direct current and provide greater capacity. The technology continues to develop at a fast pace. For example, it’s now possible to charge electric vehicles ultra-fast at up to 350 kW. On the downside, the availability of ultra-fast charging stations goes hand in hand with increased safety risks. For that reason, it’s even more important for the standards to take these risks into consideration. Charging station testing is a crucial part of this.
Charging station test for conformity
It’s vital for EVs and all charging stations to provide an optimum charging experience to drivers. This means that charging stations, electric vehicles and back office systems should communicate flawlessly with each other. Standards have been drawn up to achieve this goal. By way of a charging station test, DEKRA can check whether your charging station meets these standards.
DEKRA Seal for cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is an important element in the charging infrastructure. To safeguard your products from cyber attacks it’s essential to have this assessed. You can also have your product certified at DEKRA in respect of international standards, such as IEC 62443 and ETSI EN 303 645. To be better able to meet the latest trends in the market, DEKRA developed the first cybersecurity certification programme specifically for the charging infrastructure.
Our certification programme enables us to evaluate whether your charging stations meet the requirements of cybersecurity. If your product passes our evaluation test, it will be given the DEKRA Seal.
DEKRA as a core member of CharIN
We are the only CharIN-accredited laboratory in Europe. CharIN, the industry-wide consortium, is actively involved in the Combined Charging System (CCS). CharIN is supported by a range of European, North American and Asian car manufacturers, and DEKRA is one of its core members. In addition, DEKRA has one of the most advanced charging station tests, scopes and other major laboratory accreditations, such as:
- EV-READY, supported by French car makers
- CHAdeMO, supported by Japanese car makers
- GB/T standards, supported by Chinese car makers
DEKRA's charging station tests and infrastructure
DEKRA provides charging station testing and certification services for all types of electric vehicles. This also covers charging station testing for home use and heavy-duty applications, such as electric buses and trucks. In addition, charging station tests are conducted for fast charging stations, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems, induction charging systems and interoperability with back office systems.
DEKRA's services
Conformity tests ensure that all components which form part of the charging process can communicate with each other. This includes the vehicle, the charging station and the back office. Effective communication is absolutely essential. This ensures that the right amount of current is supplied to the right vehicle and that the right energy tariff is charged to the user.
The ISO/IEC 15118 standard applies to electronic communication in charging equipment. Another relevant test in this field is the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) test, developed by the Open Charge Alliance. The OCPP protocol is used on a worldwide scale for the correct exchange of information between the charging system and the operator’s management system. With the advent of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and smart charging applications, the importance of harmonised communication protocols continues to grow.