California Energy Commission selects DEKRA to establish Vehicle-grid Innovation Laboratory (ViGIL)

The California Energy Commission has selected DEKRA to develop a Vehicle-Grid Innovation Laboratory (ViGIL) to increase interoperability of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The lab will be located in Concord, CA/USA, and is expected to open in the summer of 2022.

The project was awarded and funded through a competitive bid process focused on increasing capacity and throughput of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) standards testing and expanding testing for electric vehicle charging equipment.

“At DEKRA, we are passionate about the future of mobility and the exciting opportunities presented by electric vehicles,” said Bert Zoetbrood, President of DEKRA Americas. “We are proud to partner with the California Energy Commission to transform the transportation sector towards its 2030 ZEV goals, improve interoperability, and ensure a seamless charging experience for consumers in California and across the country.”

The ViGIL will offer a range of state-of-the-art testing and certification services for electric vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, device manufacturers, electric vehicle charging station manufacturers, charging point operators, and service providers. Upon opening, services will include:

• Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.6 certification: Developed by the Open Charge Alliance, this certification includes interoperability and conformance testing to ensure proper functioning between the electrical vehicle charging station and the back-office.
• CharIN testing: This certifies interoperability between electric vehicles (EV) and EVSE.
• ISO/IEC 15118 certification: International standard for vehicle to grid (V2G) communication. Certification will include plug and charge.
• Testing Section 3.40 of the NIST 2020 Handbook 44 (Electrical Vehicle Fueling): This code applies to devices, accessories, and systems used for the measurement of electricity dispensed in vehicle fuel applications, including EVSE submeters.

DEKRA will continue to develop new capabilities at ViGIL, including V2G bi-directional charging testing according to ISO 15118-20 and OCPP 2.0.1. As an innovation facility, the lab aims to allocate 20% of laboratory resources for universities and small businesses to encourage investment and participation in the EV industry.

“The Vehicle-Grid Innovation Laboratory from DEKRA will focus on inclusive and sustainable test environments,” said Andres Moreno, Senior Vice President of Service Operations for DEKRA North America. “Sustainability is a strategic foundation of our business and a major principle and condition for relationships with suppliers, service providers, and other business partners.”

ViGIL will develop EVSE testing capacity at DEKRA’s current lab in Concord. This builds upon the company’s capabilities in EV and EVSE charging globally, including facilities for OCPP, CharIN, safety, and EMC testing in Sterling, VA, USA, and in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Through its worldwide network of laboratories, DEKRA offers a range of testing services for electric, connected, and autonomous vehicles, including laboratory testing, field testing, and regulatory certification services, such as FCC Part 15 and Part 90 for U.S. market access.