European auto makers agree on a comprehensive set of recommendations to standardize charging systems for electric vehicles.
Ivan Hodac, secretary-general of the ACEA, the European auto makers’ group, calls this a major step toward the broader introduction of EVs in Europe and paves the way for a unified worldwide solution.
Uniform recharging sought for Citroen C-Zero, other EVs.
“We call on the European Commission, the standardization bodies and the infrastructure providers to adopt these recommendations and to clear remaining issues as soon as possible,” he says in a statement.
The ACEA says standardizing the connection between the electricity grid and EVs is one of the prerequisites to help the vehicles gain market share. The many technologies now in use are causing fragmentation of the market across Europe and abroad, it continues.
The industry proposals cover the link between the public charging infrastructure and the vehicle inlet, including communication between the two as they address both slow and fast-charging with direct or alternating current.
One recommendation, for example, calls for the use of one type of plug independent of auto maker, electricity provider or country.
Once approved by the standardization bodies, auto makers will begin integrating the uniform application into their production cycles. The industry seeks full implementation by 2017.
“Standardization provides predictability to investors. It enables economy of scale and reduces costs,” Hodac says.
The ACEA says its members predict the European market share for EVs in the range of 3% to 10% by 2020 to 2025.
The organization comprises BMW, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Fiat, Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, MAN Truck & Bus, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Scania, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen, Volvo Cars and Volvo Group.
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