image: KERI's EV testing for charging system interoperability view more
Credit: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI)
Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), an internationally accredited testing and certification agency for electric power equipment, was recognized by the ‘Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN)’ as ‘CCS conformance test laboratory’ for the first time in the world.
CharIN is the global association dedicated to promote interoperability based on the combined charging system (CCS) as the global standard for charging system of all kinds, and develop and establish conformance testing and certification programs. Currently, approximately 229 world’s leading EV manufacturers such as Hyundai, KiA, BMW, Volkswagen, GM, and EV supply equipment(EVSE, charging station) manufacturers and CPO(Charging Point Operator) serve as core members of CharIN. Likewise, CharIN is one of the biggest and most powerful actors on the global EV market.
As for the global EV charging infrastructure by selecting and applying the charging connector and inlet standard, the physical interoperability has been achieved already. However, interoperability issues are still remained causing the user-inconvenience such as unable to charge, discontinued charge, connector locking after charge, etc, due to the inconsistent interpretations of requirements from standard between EV OEMs and EVSE manufacturers.
As the EV market continues to grow, bigger issues are expected in the future, thus, as one of the solutions, there is an increasing need for internationally accredited testing and certification agencies that review interoperability between EVs and charging infrastructure and provide solutions in advance. After the preparation and validation of the requirements for 3 years and 4 months, CharIN officially appointed KERI of Korea and DEKRA as the ‘CCS conformance test laboratories’ for the first time in the world.
Key criteria to be qualified as the CharIN authorized CCS conformance test laboratories include ▲ infrastructure (electricity/electric power to test multiple EVs and chargers simultaneously), ▲ experts (specialists who can contributes to developing standards for CCS and test/certificate program), and ▲ competence in testing and working on the global stage.
Based on the world’s best high power/voltage testing facilities, KERI, which is an internationally accredited testing and certification agency for electric power equipment, has incubated many experts in various fields, and as a proof of it, KERI took a role of Qualification Team leader in CharIN Focus Group Conformance Testing/Interoperability. It also has a rich experience to organize interoperability testing event named on ‘Global Testival (Test+Festival)’ where EV OEMs and EVSE manufacturers are gather together to test their prodcuts each others and discuss technical issues since 2018. All of these are a testament to the qualifications of KERI to be appointed by the CCS conformance test laboratory for the first time in the world.
Kim Jong-Uk, the Vice President of Testing & Certification Services commented “We are truly pleased to become the recognized testing lab by CharIN. EV market players focused on the product safety and performance in the initial stage, but now interoperability between EVs and charging stations have become the top priority issues across the globe. Throughout the conformance testing services, KERI will support the improved interoperability of EV charging system, and from this recognition, as the pioneer and leader, KERI steps on a new journey to achieve the enhancement of Korean, Asian, and the global market.
Currently, the capability of KERI testing is given with 400 kW and the standard of DIN Spec., ISO 15118 series, IEC 61851-1/21-1/21-2/23 and so on. For the future, KERI plans to gradually expand its scope of test and certification on various promising EV charging technologies such as ‘Plug & Charge’, a new way of automating payment for EV charging by using digital certificates, and ‘Vehicle to Grid’, a technology that enables energy to be pushed back to the power grid from the battery of an electric car, by collecting issues at the site and analyzing the data. On behalf of Asia, KERI will hold the ‘2021 Global Testival’ where foreign and Korean EV manufacturers gather together in this October to lay the foundation to lead the effort for establishing international EV fast charging standards.
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(About KERI)
KERI is a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT and the nation’s only institute dedicated to electricity. Approximately 760 KERI members are working at its main office in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do and branch offices in Ansan and Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do. In the meantime, KERI plans to serve a pivotal role for industrial development of large capacity power converters for new/ renewable energy sources and distributed power systems in Honam (Jeolla) region with the establishment of ‘Gwangju Smart Grid Division’ in July, 2020.
Established in 1976, KERI has carried out R&D activities effectively close to a half-century in various sectors of electricity including △electrical grid and new/renewable energy △electrical devices △power semiconductor and superconductivity technology △ robotics and motor control technology △electric propulsion technology △battery, nano and other electrical materials technology △ electrical medical devices encompassing both the nation’s basic technology infrastructure to advanced technologies.