While the electric vehicle (EV) market has entered a temporary growth slowdown, the technological requirements surrounding charging infrastructure and energy storage systems (ESS) are rapidly evolving, with bidirectional charging, ultra-high power, and grid-connected testing emerging as key challenges.

At the 'Keysight World Tech Day' webinar held online on the 29th, Jongwon Moon, deputy manager of Automotive Solutions Engineering at Keysight Technologies, emphasized that electric vehicle charging technology is evolving beyond simple power supply to become a core element of energy infrastructure under the topic of 'Testing challenges and solution strategies for future EV infrastructure.'

“EVs and chargers are no longer independent devices, but should be viewed as a single energy system integrated with the grid,” explained Vice Minister Moon.

Accordingly, charging infrastructure and ESS require much more complex technical verification and testing than before.

The biggest change is the evolution of charging methods.

Existing EV charging has typically been a one-way structure (V1G) where power flows from the grid to the vehicle.

On the other hand, recent ISO Bidirectional charging (V2G, Vehicle to Grid), which returns power from vehicles to the grid, is being seriously discussed, centered around the 15118-20 standard.

In this case, electric vehicles will function not as simple consumers but as distributed energy resources (DER).

It is a new energy source that contributes to stabilizing power supply and demand along with solar power, wind power, and ESS.

These changes impose new technical requirements on chargers and vehicles.

First of all, compliance with standards for communication with the grid is essential. Interoperability testing with power grid communication protocols such as IEEE 2030.5, SunSpec, and DNP3 is required, and compliance verification for different grid codes in each region is also required.

Interconnection standards such as UL 1741 and IEEE 1547 are key criteria for determining whether EV chargers and vehicles can safely connect and disconnect from the grid.

In particular, the 'anti-islanding' test has already been considered important in the ESS and solar inverter fields, and is emerging as an essential test in the EV field as V2G expands.

This is a test to verify whether the output is cut off within a set period of time so that the vehicle or charger does not supply power independently even when the power grid is disconnected.

As it is directly related to safety, it is considered a technical requirement that must be met in the construction of future EV charging infrastructure.

Increasing output is also an important task.

As battery capacity expands and the demand for shorter charging times grows, DC ultra-fast charging and megawatt-level charging (MCS, Megawatt Charging System) are becoming a reality.

MCS, aimed at large vehicles such as commercial trucks, buses, heavy equipment, and ships, handles power up to 1,500 volts and thousands of amperes, requiring power, heat, and safety management technologies that are on a whole different level from conventional chargers.

Accordingly, test systems and simulation technologies that operate stably even in high-voltage and high-current environments are emerging as essential elements.

Technologies that enhance user convenience are also important requirements for charging infrastructure.

Plug & Charge automatically authenticates and pays by simply connecting the vehicle.The technology consists of a secure communication and authentication system based on ISO 15118.

To implement this, encrypted communication between the charger and the vehicle, certificate management, and interoperability testing must be implemented first.

“EV charging infrastructure is now a complex area where power, communications, software, and safety regulations are intertwined,” said Vice President Moon. “End-to-end testing capabilities encompassing vehicles, chargers, grids, and energy storage systems will determine competitiveness.”

As electric vehicle charging infrastructure moves to the center of the energy ecosystem, the technological requirements and verification systems that support it are expected to become increasingly important.