International Organization for Electrotechnical Standardization (IEC) standards play a vital role in ensuring trouble-free charging of electric vehicles in various countries, with the aim of enhancing the autonomy of electric vehicles and promoting their adoption in more countries. In many countries worldwide, governments are investing in the adoption of electric vehicles as one of the main ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. Statistics show that electric vehicle adoption has grown rapidly in recent years, despite consumer reluctance to switch from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles. According to EVvolumes, which maintains a database of electric vehicle sales, a total of 10.5 million new vehicles were delivered in 2022, a 55% increase over 2021.

One of the challenges that must be addressed in order to increase the use of electric vehicles is the existence and operation of charging infrastructure. One of the reasons many drivers are hesitant to use electric vehicles is whether their autonomy can be guaranteed. In other words, they are worried about whether they will be able to charge their cars while on the road so they can get to their destination. This is not only a matter of consumer perception since according to many experts, the development of charging infrastructure is not ambitious enough to meet the various goals set in developed countries, let alone in emerging economies.

The Green Deal, announced in December 2019, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 90% by 2050 compared to 1990. To achieve this goal, the development of a global charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, which goes hand in hand with the corresponding use of electric vehicles by consumers and businesses, is considered decisive. The initial goal is to create one million charging points by 2025. The Green Deal also calls for 13 million zero- and low-emission vehicles on European roads by 2025. The aim of this policy is to make charging electric vehicles as simple as possible. as much as filling the tank of a conventional vehicle, so that electric vehicles can travel without difficulty throughout the territory of the European Union. One of the ways to achieve this goal is to promote an interoperable charging infrastructure throughout the territory. For this reason, the international standards prepared by the International Organization for Electronic Standardization and adopted by the majority of them by the European community have an important role to play in the formation of a fully functional system.

The standards for charging electric vehicles or their combined charging system, promoted by the European Commission, are the European standards (which have been adopted by the Cyprus Organization for Standardization as national) EN 62196-2 for alternating current (AC) and EN 62196-3 for direct current (DC), based on the IEC 62196 series of standards, which covers the mechanical, electrical and performance requirements for plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets for connection between power supply equipment for electrical vehicles and the electric vehicle. Thanks to these standards, users gradually gain smoother access to various charging networks across the mainland. The IEC 61851 standards define DC and AC charging infrastructures complement the IEC 62196 series of standards.

However, while international standards are a key factor in facilitating the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), it is considered imperative to develop more charging stations in various European countries, especially in the eastern part of the continent. The high cost of financing the infrastructure for electric vehicles remains a brake on the further development of the network. DC chargers are faster than AC chargers, but their cost is also much higher. While it takes several hours to charge a battery with AC, DC chargers only take 20 to 30 minutes. This makes them much more convenient and the experience for drivers is likened to the experience of using a gas station. However, the cost of a DC charger versus an AC charger differs quite a bit.

An interesting solution gaining ground in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom is Pole-Mounted Charging (PMC). This solution can be used with either DC or AC chargers. The PMC solution offers a cost-effective and creative approach to the installation of public charging stations. Chargers are mounted on utility poles or even public light poles, reducing installation costs by 70% in some areas. This clever shape allows the utilization of an existing energy source.

Efforts are being made all over the world to transition from fossil fuel powered vehicles to electric vehicles. The IEC International Standards for Electric Vehicle Charging help manufacturers design a smoother experience for electric vehicle drivers. Only time will tell whether the targets set by various countries will be met and whether these targets will be sufficient to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. For more information on standards in this area you can refer to the Cyprus Organization for Standardization (CYS) which is the national standardization body of Cyprus.

Source: IEC Tech