ACEA

ACEA members address the challenge of standardising the charging of electrically chargeable vehicles

Brussels, 28 April 2011 – The European automakers further detail their recommendations on standardising the charging of electrically chargeable vehicles to facilitate and speed up the process of setting standards for the EU and, indirectly, help promote global solutions.

Building on the ACEA recommendations of 14 June 2010 , automakers have concluded a further, more detailed round of recommendations for the charging of electric vehicles, including passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles. The background to this is the need for global agreement on electricity charging. The recommendations focus on the charging infrastructure (electric charging stations), the electrically chargeable vehicle inlet (vehicle part) and the interface (cable connectors) which connects both.

The automotive industry agreed on a single EU-wide recommendation for the ‘Type 2’ infrastructure outlet. This is a plug which serves as connector between the charging cable of the vehicle and the charging infrastructure. Secondly, a unique solution is presented for AC (‘alternating current’) and DC (‘direct current’) fast charging as well as thirdly, for standard AC charging: AC and DC fast charging is always to be executed by charging points with fixed cables on the side of the infrastructure. This is different to the standard AC charging for which auto manufacturers provide the cable to be plugged into the socket at the charging station.

ACEA members agree that these recommendations will enable a quicker market uptake of electric vehicles and deliver high investment scores into fast charging infrastructures when they are standardised EU-wide and on a global level. The aim of these recommendations, i.e. the standardisation of electric vehicle charging, will also provide more convenience for consumers. Interface standardisation (e.g. vehicle-to-grid infrastructure) will avoid a fragmented pattern of locally competing and incompatible solutions.

Go back