New charging standard: what would it consist of?

A new charging standard is set to emerge in order to regulate the varying figures of manufacturers on batteries.

In an electric car, there are several aspects that determine the quality of a model. This includes factors such as autonomy, which reassures motorists, and recharge time at the terminal.

Every manufacturer strives to highlight their product, but with different indicators, making it very difficult to compare.

Fortunately, the latest information suggests that this is likely to change very soon.

Difficult to compare figures

This is why the VDA, Automotive Industry Association, in collaboration with its partners, has presented a global standard.

The new standard aims to regulate uniform measurements of charging times, autonomy, maximum power, and the efficiency of the charge.

Currently, on existing batteries, the charging time is longer from 80 to 100%. Therefore, manufacturers generally specify the charging time from 0 to 80%.

This is just one example of the extensive information provided by the manufacturers, making it almost impossible to compare different models and therefore make the most judicious choice for optimal use.

Tests at –7 degrees

With this in mind, new charging standards will be put in place – a necessary decision, as Marcus Bolling, general director of VDA, indicates:

“We need a clear standardization of the boundary conditions, otherwise the values are not comparable.”

If the new standard is not MANDATORY, it risks spreading, especially because customers will demand it from now on.

The new ISO standard will also specify how the electric car must be prepared for testing, as well as the general conditions which prevail.

The brand new ISO standard will therefore regulate the value of autonomy per hour, as well as the charging time from 10 to 80%.

For this, a load test at – 7 degrees is planned, with a tolerance of plus or minus three degrees. The goal is simple: to normalize and compare battery performance in cold conditions.

However, there is a risk that the 6-degree window is not sufficient to achieve optimal battery performance.