DEKRA is the first IECEE Certification Body accredited to certify EV charging systems against EMC standard IEC 61851-21-2

Jul 27, 2020 Digital & Product Solutions

The DEKRA testing laboratory in Arnhem (the Netherlands) is now an RvA (Dutch Raad voor Accreditatie) accredited test facility and the first and only IECEE CB testing laboratory (CBTL) and National Certification Body (NCB) recognized to test and certify Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) against the EMC standard IEC 61851-21-2. The IECEE CB Certification of an EVSE by DEKRA proves that the product is in compliance with international standards. As such, it can be marketed in more than 50 countries.

“We can now test and certify any EVSE technology ranging from AC to DC and up to 360 kW”, says Sedat Eser, Operational Manager EMC & Wireless at DEKRA. “High power charging (>150 kW) allows cars to be charged within 15 to 20 minutes, thus making long distance trips feasible. Our facility can support all major AC and DC charging communication standards, such as CCS (CharIN), CHAdeMO and EV Ready.”

Solutions for a fast growing market

The EV market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of more than 21% between 2019 and 2030. Therefore, governments and companies are investing heavily in developing and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This is creating a fragmented market. Due to the high-tech nature and many different types of components in charging station technology, a multitude of different standards may apply when testing and certifying EVSE.
The IEC 61851-21-2 standard defines the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) for any off-board components or equipment used to supply or charge EVs with electric power by conductive power transfer. IEC 61851-21-2 is also referenced by SAE J1773: the US equivalent to IEC 61851. “Typically, we perform EMC tests at 20% and 80% of maximum rated power during emission testing and in waiting and charge modes during immunity testing. With our state of the art Keysight Charging Discovery System and ChadeMO reference test tool, we are able to fully automate the testing of charging stations”, Eser says.
Safety testing
In addition to EMC testing for EVSE, DEKRA‘s testing portfolio includes safety testing against IEC 61851 series of standards, interoperability and conformance testing against ISO 15118, DIN 70121/122 and CharIN standards. DEKRA is a recognized testing laboratory for CHAdeMO and EV Ready.
EV supply equipment incorporating wireless technology such as RFID, Wi-Fi and GSM can be tested against ETSI and FCC requirements by DEKRA as well. DEKRA has been appointed by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) as an OCPP1.6 testing laboratory, allowing a truly end to end testing of EV supply equipment.