ISO 15118 plays a big role in how electric vehicles (EVs) charge up.
Think of it as the language that EVs and their charging stations use to talk to each other.
It helps cars charge in a way that’s friendly to our electrical grid, lets cars give energy back if needed, and makes sure everything is secure.
What is ISO 15118 all about?
In official terms, ISO 15118 is named “Road Vehicles – Vehicle to Grid Communication Interface”.
It’s a rule book made by big organisations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
In simple words, it makes sure that all EVs and charging stations can understand each other, no matter their make, brand or type of charging (ac charging vs dc charging).
Why is everyone talking about ISO 15118?
For anyone into EVs, ISO 15118 is super exciting. It’s making the future of charging cars smart, easy, and reliable.
Plus, it helps our electrical systems stay strong and efficient.
How it helps the grid and EV owners
- Smart Charging: ISO 15118 lets cars and stations decide together when and how to charge up. This process ensures efficient use of the grid, balances energy demand and prevents overload.
- Sharing energy: With ISO 15118, an electric vehicle can also give some of its stored energy back to the grid if it’s needed, effectively utilising renewable energy and providing grid support. This is awesome for using green energy efficiently.
- Secure communication: ISO 15118 incorporates cryptographic mechanisms to ensure secure communication between a car and an electric vehicle charging station. This protects against unauthorised access, message interception, and tampering, providing data security and privacy for EV owners.
- Plug, charge, and go: One of the coolest things? The Plug & Charge feature. It allows EVs to automatically identify and authorise themselves to compatible charging stations without the need for manual intervention. It simplifies the charging process for drivers, making it seamless and convenient.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology?
V2G technology allows electric vehicles to communicate and interact with the grid, enabling not only the consumption of energy but also the ability to feed energy back to the grid when required.
This bi-directional energy transfer is a key feature of the ISO 15118 standard, as it facilitates the creation of a proper charging schedule which matches the needs of both the vehicle and the grid.
What is Plug & Charge?
Plug & Charge is an ISO 15118-compatible feature that allows EVs to independently identify and authorise themselves to compatible electric vehicle supply equipment without the need for manual intervention.
It simplifies the charging process for EV drivers, making it seamless and convenient.
How does ISO 15118 contribute to grid stability?
ISO 15118 enables bidirectional energy transfer, allowing EVs to feed energy back to the grid during times of high demand or low usage.
This power line communication helps balance the grid’s capacity and provides additional support during peak periods, promoting grid stability which is extremely important for all charging station operators.
Is ISO 15118 widely adopted?
ISO 15118 is rapidly gaining adoption globally, especially in regions like Europe, the U.S., Central/South America, South Korea, India, and Australia.
While implementation is still ongoing, the standard is recognised as a leading international standard for EV communication protocols.
Why is ISO 15118 important for the electric vehicle industry?
ISO 15118 is crucial for the EV industry as it enables grid-friendly charging, secure communication, and convenient Plug & Charge functionality.
It helps optimise energy usage, enhances data security, and provides a seamless charging experience for EV owners.
