With nearly 60 million electric vehicles (EVs) projected by the end of 2024, seamless communication and interoperability between OEMs and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) providers are essential to reduce charging anxiety and boost EV adoption. CharIN, the leading global association for EV charging standards, spearheads this effort. Their 2024 North American Testival and Conference, held in mid-June at Lincoln Electric in Cleveland, Ohio, was the largest yet, featuring 22 vehicle platforms and 23 EVSEs.
Steve Sumner, VP of Corporate Innovation at Lincoln Electric, remarked, “Collaborating with CharIN again to host the North American Testival is a privilege. Events like these are vital for ensuring robust interoperability, which drives industry growth and consumer confidence. Our partnership highlights our commitment to advancing EV mobility with innovative solutions that enhance convenience and security.”
The Testival provided a crucial platform for testing equipment interoperability. Notable highlights included demonstrations of the EVerest project by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, Seamless Retry, Remote Test Harness, and prescribed testing by the ChargeX Consortium, which includes Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Sam Thurston from ChargeX noted, “Our prescribed testing program at the June Testival was a first, with 22 testers participating. We collected valuable feedback that will help refine future testing and improve our public report on the results.”
This year also featured the debut of ISO 15118-20 protocol-based charging equipment, which enhances user experience with Plug & Charge, allowing direct vehicle connection to charging stations. Hubject led the end-to-end Plug & Charge testing, offering comprehensive testing including backend systems and technical support.
Trishan Peruma, Hubject North American CEO, said, “End-to-end testing is crucial for delivering a reliable charging experience. We’re excited to continue this collaboration with CharIN at future events.”
The event also introduced successful multi-PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) testing, a significant advancement in ensuring secure communication between vehicles and charging stations. This new online PKI testing method provides more realistic evaluations compared to previous offline methods.
Oleg Logvinov, Chair of CharIN North America, emphasized, “Interoperability extends beyond vehicle and charger interactions. It includes the entire chain from the vehicle to the cloud, improving the overall charging experience and encouraging EV adoption.”
The June Testival in Cleveland marked CharIN’s seventh North American event since 2018. The next Testival is scheduled for fall on the West Coast.
Claas Bracklo, Chairman of CharIN’s Executive Board, concluded, “Our mission remains to foster a collaborative environment for stakeholders to share knowledge and enhance the EV ownership and charging experience.”
For more details on CharIN and their Testival series, visit CharIN Events.
