European vehicle inspection company Dekra is to open a laboratory in California to increase interoperability of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

The California Energy Commission selected Dekra to set up the Vigil vehicle-grid innovation laboratory in Concord, California; it is expected to open in summer 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 in the 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 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 and EVSE.
• ISO/IEC 15118 certification: International standard for vehicle to grid (V2G) communications. Certification will include plug and charge.
• Testing section 3.40 of the Nist 2020 Handbook 44 for electrical vehicle fuelling: 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 capabilities at Vigil, including V2G bidirectional charging testing according to ISO 15118-20 and OCPP 2.0.1. As an innovation facility, the lab aims to allocate a fifth of laboratory resources for universities and small businesses to encourage investment and participation in the EV industry.

“The Vigil from Dekra will focus on inclusive and sustainable test environments,” said Andres Moreno, senior vice president of service operations for Dekra in 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.”

The 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, Virginia, and Arnhem in the Netherlands. Through its worldwide network of laboratories, Dekra offers a range of testing services for electric, connected and automated vehicles, including laboratory testing, field testing and regulatory certification services, such as FCC parts 15 and 90 for US market access.

Dekra was founded in Berlin in 1925 and now has more than 47,000 employees in 60 countries across six continents.