Standards and Protocols

Standards and protocols play a crucial role in establishing interoperability among diverse products, systems, within the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem and the grid, with further development needed for mainstream adoption of V2G technology. With a multitude of actors, standards, and protocols governing hardware and software from EVs to the grid, a comprehensive approach is essential for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) operations to succeed both in regulatory compliance, technical functionality, and unlocking the business potential to offer diverse services to the electricity system.

Effective communication is vital at various stages involving EVs, chargers and the
electricity system.

Industry standards play a crucial role

OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol): Developed since 2009, OCPP facilitates communication between charging stations and the Charging Station Management System (CSMS). It ensures interoperability in EV charging networks.

ISO 15118: provides for bidirectional energy transfer,allowing EVs to feed energy back to the grid This standard also provides a Plug & Charge mechanism, allowing EV drivers to connect to public chargers without using a mobile app or credit card. The vehicle directly communicates with the charger.

IEC 63110: Still in development, IEC 63110 aims to contribute to the interoperability of EV charging systems.

IEC 63119 is still in a relatively early phase. At the moment, charging is often organized through the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI), an open-source protocol that allows eMSPs to communicate with CSOs.

The following four main communication flows have been identified:

• Communication between electric vehicle (EV) and charging stations (EVSE/CP)
• Communication between EVSE and the central control system (CPO) (Back-end)
• Communication between CPO and EMSPs/E-Roaming platforms
• Communication between the CPO and the energy system (integration with the
  power grid)

International and European standardization organizations are currently working on
developing standards that are interoperable with each other.

For communication between EV-EVSE it’s suggested ISO 15118–20 be used.
For communication between EVSE-CPO, IEC 63110 is proposed.
Between CPO and EMSPs/E-Roaming platforms IEC 63119 is under development.