ISO 15118

ISO 15118 ISO 15118 is an international technical specification for the communication between electric vehicles and charging stations. It defines protocols for plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging, enabling features such as automated authentication, secure power transfer negotiation, and energy management interoperability. The standard aims to harmonize interactions among manufacturers, utilities, and infrastructure providers to advance electric mobility rollout globally.

Overview

ISO 15118 establishes a vehicle-to-grid communication interface that covers physical, data-link, network, transport, and application layers. It complements standards developed by organizations such as International Electrotechnical Commission, CharIN, UNECE, SAE International, and IEEE 802.11 working groups. The specification addresses both Alternating Current and Direct Current charging scenarios, aligning with hardware ecosystems from vendors like Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB Group, and Bosch. Its goals include enabling features familiar from deployments by Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen Group, Tesla, Inc., and General Motors while interoperating with utility systems operated by entities such as National Grid (Great Britain), Électricité de France, and E.ON.

Technical specifications

The technical structure of the specification is modular, with parts defining physical connectors, message formats, and semantic models for charging session parameters. It references connector types standardized by IEC 62196 and integrates with electrical safety frameworks like IEC 61851. Data modeling uses schemas influenced by work at IEC TC69 and ISO/IEC JTC 1, enabling cross-vendor compatibility among hardware platforms from Delta Electronics, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Hyundai Motor Company. Charging use cases such as bidirectional charging, smart charging, and scheduled charging draw on grid codes used by transmission system operators including PJM Interconnection, RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité), and Amprion.

Communication protocols and security

Communication stacks specified include layers compatible with IPv6, TCP/UDP, and application protocols using XML or EXI encodings, interoperating with network infrastructures run by providers like AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, and Vodafone. Security and cryptographic elements align with public key infrastructures and trust frameworks influenced by standards from IETF, ETSI, and ISO/IEC. The specification supports certificate-based authentication interoperable with certificate authorities and trust service providers like DigiCert, Let's Encrypt, and GlobalSign. Secure elements and hardware security modules from vendors such as Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductors, and STMicroelectronics are commonly used to implement secure key storage. Relevant cybersecurity considerations mirror guidance from agencies including ENISA, NIST, and European Union Agency for Cybersecurity.

Implementation and deployment

Implementations range from original equipment manufacturer firmware in vehicles by Renault Group, Ford Motor Company, and Kia Corporation to charging station firmware by manufacturers like ChargePoint, EVBox, and Ionity. Deployment projects often involve municipal programs and public-private partnerships linked to infrastructure initiatives by Transport for London, Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and City of Amsterdam. Grid-interactive pilots have been conducted in collaboration with distribution system operators such as Consolidated Edison, Iberdrola, and Enedis and with research institutions including Fraunhofer Society, TNO, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Interoperability pilots and testbeds coordinated by consortia such as CharIN and research projects funded by the European Commission have accelerated commercial rollouts.

Conformance and testing

Conformance regimes assess compliance with protocol behavior, security, and performance metrics using test frameworks developed by standards bodies and test laboratories like TÜV SÜD, UL Solutions, and DEKRA. Certification schemes may be delivered through industry initiatives run by CharIN interoperability events and by certification authorities recognized by national accreditation bodies such as DAkkS, UKAS, and ANAB. Test suites validate scenarios drawn from harmonization efforts involving ISO/IEC committees and validation labs operated by suppliers including AVL List GmbH and ETAS GmbH. End-to-end testing frequently includes integration with backend systems from companies such as SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, and Siemens Energy.

Industry adoption and impact

Adoption has influenced vehicle architectures and charging ecosystem business models at OEMs like Mercedes-Benz Group and Stellantis, while shaping networked charging offerings from mobility service providers such as Uber Technologies and Lyft, Inc.. The standard has driven investment by energy companies including Shell plc and BP in electrification infrastructure, and has been factored into regulatory planning by authorities such as European Commission and national ministries of transport in Germany, France, and China. Broader impacts manifest in research collaborations involving Imperial College London, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tsinghua University that explore grid flexibility, vehicle-to-grid economics, and smart city integration. Category:Electric vehicle standards