What is ISO 15118?
The “formal” name for ISO 15118 is “Road Vehicles – Vehicle to Grid Communication Interface.” At its most basic, ISO 15118 is an international standard that defines the communications protocol between the charging station and the electric vehicle, whether using AC, DC, wireless, or pantograph charging.
The protocol enables plug & charge, where the EV driver simply plugs the vehicle into the charge point. Then, using the ISO 15118 interface, the EV identifies itself to the charging station, allowing for instant authorization for and the initiation of charging.
Where ISO 15118 may ultimately have the greatest impact is that it ensures the ability for two-way connectivity between vehicle to grid, enabling bidirectional charging – vehicle-to-grid charging (V2G) and vice versa.
ISO 15118 was developed by a committee consisting of experts from both the automotive and utility industries.
Why is ISO 15118 essential to accelerate EV adoption?
ISO 15118 is essential because it ensures the customer charging experience is as simple as possible. ISO 15118 has six different parts, covering the protocols required to connect and secure the hardware, software, and communication layers, smoothing the complexities that occur behind the scenes to make easy charging happen.
The details range from defining the use cases and outlining the network and application protocol requirements to defining the physical and data link requirements for wired and wireless communications.
ISO 15118 Key value
Ultimately, ISO 15118-compliant EV charging management solutions ensure eMobility providers have the capabilities to deliver on these five areas:
- Smart EV charging – matching EV charging energy demands with grid capacity. Smart charging ensures power is balanced among the individual charge points in a site, the site and the campus on which it is based, and the grid itself. Using smart EV charging reduces the burden on the grid during times of high demand.
- Vehicle-to-grid charging (V2G) – two-way energy transfer between the vehicles and the grid to balance grid capacity. V2G further reduces the demand on the grid by allowing the power from the vehicles themselves to charge the grid, returning the energy to the vehicle’s battery during times of low demand or “timed” so the vehicle is ready to go when the driver will need it.
- Security – providing a mechanism by which messages between the vehicle and the charging infrastructure can be encrypted and decrypted.
- Authentication – identifying and authorizing the vehicle to be charged without any action on the part of the driver.
- Seamless charging experience – the driver does not have to do anything beyond connecting the vehicle to the infrastructure.
By complying with ISO 15118, eMobility providers can futureproof their networks to create smooth, seamless experiences for their customers while ensuring operational excellence, optimized energy management, and stronger security.
