Electric Charging Dependability Rating: Electric Cars Falling Short on Charging Performance
In a significant development for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, EcoG has published the second edition of its Charging Reliability Index (CRI). The report, which examines the charging reliability of ten global EV platforms, aims to promote standards and improve the user experience in EV charging.
Compared to the first CRI edition in 2023, the test categories were expanded, the number of tests increased by 50%, and bidirectional DC charging capability was included for the first time.
The index comprises 20 tests, divided into categories such as charging initialization, charging process, error handling, and user communication. This comprehensive approach allows for a thorough evaluation of each platform's charging reliability.
The CRI results are anonymized, with the names of the platforms with the worst results not publicly available. However, it's worth noting that no platform exceeded 76% reliability, with the lowest score being 39 out of 100 points.
One of the central issues highlighted in the report is the so-called authorization timeout problem. This issue arises when authorization at the charging station takes too long, causing the vehicle to abort the process due to a timeout. Two models still do not support the industry-relevant protocol ISO 15118-2, which limits interoperability, exacerbating this problem.
Another concern is error communication, with only two platforms using standardized error codes. Signal attenuation also varies greatly, with a difference of more than 20 dB between platforms.
On a positive note, the report highlights that the stability of charging processes has improved compared to the 2023 tests. Additionally, seven out of the ten platforms now support Transport Layer Security (TLS) for more secure communication.
However, three out of the tested electric vehicles do not provide a simple way to end the charging process directly at the vehicle, and three platforms attempted to recharge indefinitely, which could lead to battery overstress and, in the worst case, complete failure.
The expansion of the CRI and the inclusion of bidirectional DC charging capability are significant steps towards improving the reliability and interoperability of EV charging. As the EV industry continues to grow, standards like the CRI will play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless and safe charging experience for all users.
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