Skip to main content

Seven auto manufacturers collaborate on EV fast charging solution

Recognizing the importance of a single international approach for DC fast charging, Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed on the combined charging system as an international standardised approach to charge electric vehicles (EV) in Europe and the United States.
May 1, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Recognizing the importance of a single international approach for DC fast charging, Audi, 1233 BMW, 3992 Daimler, 3423 Ford, 4070 General Motors, 3489 Porsche and 3503 Volkswagen have agreed on the combined charging system as an international standardised approach to charge electric vehicles (EV) in Europe and the United States.

The system is a combined charging approach integrating all charging scenarios into one vehicle inlet/charging connector and uses identical ways for the vehicle to communicate with the charging station. This means electric vehicles from Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen can all share the same fast charging stations.

The endorsement of the combined charging system was based on reviews and analysis of existing charging strategies, the ergonomics of the connector and the preferences of customers in both the United States and Europe. The harmonised approach – across both continents and all manufacturers - will provide a framework for future infrastructure planning as well as a communication protocol to assist in the integration of electric vehicles into the smart grids.

The seven auto manufacturers also agreed to use 5393 HomePlug Green Phy as the communication protocol. This approach will also facilitate integration of the electric vehicle into future smart grid applications.

Automakers point to the success of Level 1 and Level 2 (for 220V charging in the US) as an example of how standardisation will increase the adoption of electric vehicles and increase customer satisfaction. The harmonised electric vehicle charging solution is backward compatible with the J1772 connector standard in the US.

Backward compatibility also has been achieved in Europe where the system is based on the IEC 62196 Type 2. The approval of the J1772 standard has given electric vehicle owners the comfort of knowing they can charge at all Level 2 charging stations. Prior to standardisation, an EV owner had no way of knowing if the charge port they were pulling up to was compatible with their vehicle.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Electric compaction from Hamm on test
    January 16, 2024
    The latest, zero-emission battery-powered electric tandem rollers from Hamm have proven their worth in a series of working applications.
  • Exclusive Americas licensee of OLEV technology
    May 2, 2012
    Boston-Massachusetts headquartered OLEV Technologies has been appointed the exclusive north and south American licensee responsible for commercialising the OLEV (On Line Electric Vehicle) technology, a zero emission green transportation technology, invented at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)."OLEV technology is a proven, safe and cost-effective green transportation solution that can be deployed today," said Dr. Hikyu Lee, president & CEO of OLEV Technologies.
  • Driving advances in engines and drivelines
    February 27, 2019
    Technology advances for engine and driveline systems continue - Mike Woof writes With the Stage V emissions requirements being introduced in Europe, a number of engine manufacturers have already announced their plans. Leading engine makers such as Cummins, Deutz, John Deere, Perkins and Volvo Penta have all released information regarding the engines that they will be offering. The new standard introduces the particulate particle count (PN) and applies to all diesel engines above 19kW for off-road applic
  • Student’s graphene battery could cut EV charging times
    December 8, 2016
    Josh de Wit, a second-year mechanical engineering student from the University of Sussex, has won the Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award for 2016 with a concept that could dramatically reduce charging times for electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce the weight of their batteries. Josh’s design harnesses the remarkable qualities of graphene, a form of pure carbon in sheets that are just one atom thick. A car battery made with stacked graphene, he says, would take far less time to charge, store more energy