IEC releases final draft standards for EV charging
Geneva, Switzerland, 2011-10-03 – New standards move international EV cross-market
compatibility forward.
Moving international co-operation forwards
The latest set of IEC International Standards for electric vehicles (EVs) is nearing
completion with the circulation of two final draft standards, IEC 62196-1 and IEC
62196-2. These define the plugs and sockets for charging EVs and are outlined below.
These IEC standards pull together the huge volume of diverse research and
development surrounding EV charging mechanisms from around the world whilst
addressing the diverse electricity infrastructures and regulations in different countries.
In the past these factors have meant there is a very real risk that incompatible solutions
will be developed by separate businesses in different global regions. This would be
against the best interests of the worldwide vehicle manufacturing industry, as
addressed during this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA).
IAA is the largest annual global gathering of motor manufacturers and this year had its
biggest ever focus on EVs, including a whole exhibition hall dedicated to electromobility
and a clutch of specialist conferences.
One of these, the Electric Mobility Congress, recognized how different national
approaches are thwarting the mass marketability of EVs and several significant
manufacturers, including Bosch, called for international standardization. The technical
standards being put forward by the IEC respond to these calls.
Formulating these has been difficult because of the problems outlined above.
However, because of IEC’s well established process and international approach there
is a high level of confidence that they will enable global interoperability, allowing vehicle
manufactures' products to operate across as wide a range of markets as possible.
EV charging standards
The two final draft standards define the plugs and sockets which can be used to charge
an EV. IEC 62196-1 contains the general requirements while IEC 62196-2
standardizes three types of mains connecting systems, known as Types 1, 2 and 3.
Which of these is appropriate depends largely upon the electrical infrastructure and
regulatory conditions in each country.
These standards build upon IEC 61851-1 which defines the four modes of charging an
EV from a power source. Modes 1 to 3 are estimated to allow an EV to be fully charged
in between three and ten hours through direct connection to a mains supply. Mode 4
could fully charge an EV in under ten minutes, but as it uses off-grid batteries it is the
most expensive to implement.
The new general IEC 62196-1 standard applies to all four of these modes while IEC
62196-2 applies only to mains charging (Modes 1 to 3). A third standard, IEC 62196-3,
is being developed to standardize DC charging (Mode 4).
In addition, IEC 61851-1 defines three cable and plug setups which can be used to
charge EVs: Case A, where the cable is permanently attached to the EV; Case B,
where the cable is not permanently attached to anything; and Case C where the cable
is permanently attached to the charging station.
Standards to match regulatory parameters
Taken together these Types, Modes and Cases allow manufacturers to work to
common standards within which they can meet the regulatory requirements across
differing markets.
For example, Italy and the United States have limited Mode 1 charging on safety
grounds, while Mode 3 is receiving a lot of interest in the United States and Europe for
public charging points and Mode 4 is favoured in Japan.
Furthermore, technical constraints mean all Mode 4 cables need to be permanently
attached to the charging station (Case C) and United States regulations demand that
Mode 3 charging stations also have Case C cables.
The new draft standards, IEC 62196-1 and IEC 62196-2, bring further clarification to
this picture by defining the plugs and sockets which can be used according to differing
electricity infrastructures.
For example, the United States and Japan currently favour Type 1 connectors, some
European countries favour Type 2 connectors and other countries’ regulations mean
Type 3 connectors could be required.
IEC standards setting a baseline for EV development
As can be seen from this brief overview, existing regulations and electricity distribution
networks are already shaping how the provision of EV charging stations is being
developed. Left unchecked this could lead to a situation where vehicle manufacturers
would have to produce a new model of each car in order to meet the EV charging
requirements of each country.
IEC’s standards will help prevent this from happening by defining a set of options which
each country and manufacturer can choose from according to their requirements. This
will ensure that EVs and the components needed to charge them can be used in as
many countries as possible, bringing down costs for manufacturers and potentially
increasing EV attractiveness to consumers.
The IEC International Standards IEC 62196-1 and IEC 62196-2 are due to be
published within the next few months, at which time a more in depth technical overview
of them will be provided.
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About the IEC
The IEC is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishes International
Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as
"electrotechnology". It brings together 162 countries and close to 10 000 experts.
IEC International Standards include globally relevant technical specifications and
metrics that allow electric or electronic devices to work efficiently and safely with each
other anywhere in the world. IEC work covers a vast range of technologies from EVs,
renewables, power generation, transmission and distribution, including Smart Grids, to
home appliances and office equipment, batteries, nanotechnology, communication
protocols, to mention just a few. The IEC supports all forms of conformity assessment
and manages Conformity Assessment Systems that certify that equipment, systems or
components conform to its International Standards.
www.iec.ch
Further information:
Gabriela Ehrlich
Mob: +41 79 600 56 72
Skype: gabriela.ehrlich
E-mail: geh@iec.ch