Simplify Electric Car Charging with IEC15118 Protocol: A Promising Future

No. EA, an electric vehicle (EV) charging network, has often met with criticism for its slow charging speeds and frequent malfunctioning chargers. Additionally, EA has fallen behind Tesla in the charging infrastructure race, and many automakers are now shifting to Tesla's CCS standards. This shift may result in significant losses for EA in terms of customers.

However, amidst the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of the IEC15118 protocol. This protocol has been under development for several years, and its potential is slowly being realized. The IEC15118 protocol aims to simplify electric car charging processes and enhance charging network efficiency.

Understanding IEC15118

The IEC15118 protocol is a significant advancement in electric car charging technology. It has been in development for several years, and its importance was first highlighted in October 2016, just before a conference focused on a similar protocol for solar inverters. In 2018, a conference organized by CharIN, the organization responsible for the CCS protocol, delved into the details of using IEC15118 for identifying cars. This conference provided valuable insights into the workings of the protocol.

IEC15118 includes a feature that allows for the exchange of certificates over charging connectors. These certificates are cryptographically signed digital files that robustly identify the device, similar to how websites that support SSL have URLs starting with 'https'. This cryptographic signing technique ensures a robust and tamper-proof identifier that can be electronically read.

Benefit of the IEC15118 Protocol

When an electric car is plugged into a charging station that uses IEC15118, a data exchange process occurs through the charging connector. Part of this data exchange includes the certificate, which robustly identifies the car to the charging station. This identification allows for a seamless and secure charging process.

This identification is crucial for the implementation of roaming services, which allow users to use charging stations from different networks. The charging networks will need to agree on a system to exchange money and manage the use of charging stations based on the network they belong to. This agreement is facilitated by the back-end data exchange process. CharIN, in collaboration with HUBJECT, a European organization, has implemented a system that allows for roaming across HUBJECT-affiliated charging networks.

Conclusion

The IEC15118 protocol is a promising development in the realm of electric car charging networks. While the process may be complex, the underlying systems are known and under development. As more automakers and charging networks adopt this protocol, we can expect a more efficient and user-friendly charging experience for electric car owners.

As the world transitions to cleaner energy sources, the importance of reliable and efficient electric car charging networks cannot be overstated. The IEC15118 protocol is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and its implementation could help No. EA and other charging networks better serve their customers.

Future research and innovation will continue to advance this protocol, making electric car charging simpler and more accessible for everyone. With increased adoption and support, the future of electric car charging looks brighter than ever.