What is the difference between ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20?

ISO 15118 is a set of international standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that defines communication requirements between electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. Within this series, two sub-parts stand out: ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20. While they both contribute to the overall goal of enabling efficient and secure EV charging, there are distinct differences between the two.

ISO 15118-2: Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Communication Interface

ISO 15118-2 specifies the communication interface between an EV and a charging station for V2G communication. It focuses on interactions related to vehicle authorization, energy measurement, and control functions. This standard ensures compatibility among various EV models and different charging equipment manufacturers.

This part of ISO 15118 establishes a standardized method for EVs and charging stations to communicate using a secure and reliable protocol. The primary objective here is to enable smart charging, bi-directional power flow, and easy integration with other grid management systems. By implementing ISO 15118-2, EV owners have access to advanced charging functionalities while ensuring interoperability across the charging infrastructure ecosystem.

ISO 15118-20: Power-Line Communication for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

ISO 15118-20 focuses specifically on power-line communication (PLC) as the means of information exchange between EVs and charging stations. It addresses aspects such as physical layer specifications, data encoding schemes, modulation techniques, and frequency bands for communication over the power line.

This standard plays a critical role in ensuring reliable and efficient communication between EVs and the charging infrastructure using the existing power cables. By leveraging the power-line communication technology, ISO 15118-20 allows for data transmission without the need for additional dedicated communication cables, simplifying the installation process and reducing costs.

Differences between ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20

While both ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 contribute to establishing effective communication protocols in the EV charging ecosystem, they have distinct scopes and focus areas:

- ISO 15118-2 primarily focuses on the overall V2G communication interface between EVs and charging stations. It defines the necessary interactions for smart charging, vehicle authorization, energy measurement, and control functions.

- ISO 15118-20, on the other hand, specifically delves into power-line communication as the means of information exchange between EVs and charging stations. It provides specifications for physical layer communication over the existing power cables.

Therefore, while ISO 15118-2 covers a broader spectrum of communication aspects in the EV charging ecosystem, ISO 15118-20 narrows down to the specific details related to power-line communication.

In conclusion, ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 are essential components of the ISO 15118 series that facilitate effective and standardized communication between EVs and charging infrastructure. While ISO 15118-2 focuses on the overall V2G communication interface, ISO 15118-20 dives deep into power-line communication specifics. Implementing these standards ensures interoperability, simplifies the charging infrastructure deployment, and paves the way for intelligent and efficient EV charging.