ISO 15118 is a cornerstone for the development and implementation of advanced EV charging solutions. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the standard aims to standardise the communication processes between EVs and charging stations. This ensures a seamless, secure, and user-friendly charging experience. The standard supports different types of charging, including alternating current (AC), direct current (DC), and wireless charging.
One of the key features of ISO 15118 is Plug & Charge, which allows an EV to automatically identify and authenticate itself to a compatible charging station without any manual intervention from the driver. This is achieved through the exchange of digital certificates that are pre-installed in the EV and the charging station. This feature significantly simplifies the charging process, as the driver only needs to plug the vehicle into the charging station, and the rest of the process, including authorisation and payment, is handled automatically.
Furthermore, ISO 15118 enables vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, allowing bidirectional energy transfer between the EV and the grid. This means that EVs can not only draw power from the grid but also return surplus energy back to it, which can help in balancing grid loads and enhancing the use of renewable energy sources. The standard’s communication protocol includes security measures such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) to ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and authentication.