The standard for electric vehicle charging connectors and protocols in India

Recently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) approved new standards for charging sockets and communication protocols for light electric vehicles (LEVs). The approval of IS 17017 (Part 2 / Section 7) as the standard for AC and DC charging plugs and IS 17017 (Part 25) as the communication protocol for charging ELVs is a positive development for the electric vehicle industry in India.

Convergence towards standardized connectors and protocols is essential to achieve greater interoperability and investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) infrastructure. With standardized connectors and protocols, it is easier for different EVSE networks to work together and for EV manufacturers to ensure that their vehicles can be charged safely and efficiently at different charging stations.

But as the DC fast charger infrastructure expands, there are more considerations to be made. One of the biggest concerns is protecting the health of the battery. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) want to ensure that their electric motorcycles can only draw power from reliable DC fast chargers that meet relevant safety and quality standards. Battery health depends on charging profiles and the quality of power supplied to the vehicle, so using substandard chargers can lead to problems and warranty costs for manufacturers.

Another important consideration is cyber security. As the number of charging stations and charging ports increases, there is a risk of malicious attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Current standards do not fully address this risk, but a foundation of hardware-level cybersecurity, such as secure elements and CAN transceivers, can provide resilience against hacking and unauthorized communications.

Furthermore, it is crucial to improve user comfort for greater adoption of electric vehicles. Current payment mechanisms for charging services can be cumbersome, with different charging station operators having their own mobile apps and payment systems. Simplifying the payment process and enabling plug and charge experiences can improve user satisfaction and encourage more people to switch to electric cars.

Overall, convergence towards standardized connectors and protocols, along with considerations of battery health, cyber security and ease of use, are critical to the growth and success of the EV industry in India.

Source: This article is based on an original article by Narsimh Kamath, Business Development Manager at NXP, a global leader in automotive and industrial semiconductors.