Vector and Hubject have announced their collaboration to further advance Plug & Charge technology, aiming to simplify the electric vehicle (EV) charging process.
With over 2.6 million PnC-compatible vehicles already on the market, this partnership is set to accelerate adoption and implementation.
Through this collaboration, OEMs and charging station manufacturers can now obtain Hubject’s quality control (pre-production) and production certificates via the Vector Security Manager using the latest version of the CANoe development and testing tool, version 18 SP3.
Vector Security Manager serves as a bridge between Vector tools and OEM-specific security implementations, enabling the uniform use of security functions across tools.
Hubject’s quality control and production certificates are crucial for testing EVs and EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) using Vector’s CANoe EV or CANoe EVSE test packages.
This integration ensures that both vehicles and charging stations comply with ISO 15118 standards for interoperability, conformity, and market readiness.
“We are thrilled to work closely with Hubject to push the boundaries of Plug & Charge technology,” said Phanuel Hieber, Product Manager at Vector.
“This partnership will provide customers with the tools they need to ensure their EVs and EVSE are fully compatible and future-ready.”
Omar Hasan, Project Manager at Hubject, added:
“This technical collaboration enables OEMs and EVSE manufacturers to accelerate and improve the reliability of Plug & Charge integration, paving the way for future advancements.”
PnC delivers a seamless user experience, eliminating the need for physical cards or mobile apps to authenticate and initiate charging. This simplifies the charging process and makes EVs more appealing to potential buyers.
Technically, PnC utilises digital certificates and encryption to ensure a secure connection between EVs and EVSE, safeguarding both user data and charging infrastructure.
vCharM Enables Grid-Compatible Charging: Advances in OCPP 2.1 Integration
At the OCA Plugfest 2024, Vector’s vCharM software was among the first CSMS to successfully test the current draft of OCPP 2.1 against multiple charging station manufacturers.
OCPP 2.1-compatible features, such as bidirectional charging, represent a potential revenue stream for charging station operators.
The Open Charge Alliance (OCA) is developing and promoting the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), enabling standardised and interoperable communication between charging stations and Charge Station Management Systems (CSMS).
The interoperability of OCPP 2.1 was tested at the Plugfest organised by OCA at the Vector Campus in Stuttgart, Germany. In the future, it should enable functionalities such as bidirectional charging, dynamic tariffs, and real-time cost transparency.
Vector’s vCharM CSMS was one of the first to successfully test OCPP 2.1 against multiple charging station manufacturers.
At its most complex level, OCPP 2.1 enables grid-compatible charging, controlling the charging process to maintain grid stability, avoid load peaks, and optimise the use of renewable energy sources.
A direct communication interface with energy providers allows for reactions to price fluctuations and energy surpluses: in case of energy bottlenecks and higher prices, less energy is charged, or even energy is fed back from EVs. During surpluses, more energy is consumed.
With the implementation of the OCPP 2.1 standard in vCharM, charging station operators will not only work more efficiently and save costs but also generate additional revenue and contribute to grid stability and sustainability.
vCharM is also cost-effective thanks to smart charging point control for peak shaving. Peak shaving is achieved through static or dynamic power limits based on building consumption.
Installing charging points without peak demand control often leads to higher costs for operators, as simultaneous EV charging creates high power peaks, resulting in elevated annual connection costs and potential infrastructure expansion.
Demand peak control regulates charging power to avoid demand peaks, ensuring existing grid connections are sufficient and often eliminating the need for grid connection upgrades.
Using dynamic energy tariffs, vCharM can also schedule EV charging sessions during cost-effective periods by leveraging day-ahead electricity price forecasts and predictions of vehicle downtime and energy requirements.
