What does ISO 15118 mean?

Explanation

ISO 15118 is the communication standard that governs how your car talks to the charger at a detailed level. While OCPP handles charger-to-backend communication, ISO 15118 handles car-to-charger communication. It is what makes Plug & Charge possible and also enables features like bidirectional charging (V2G) and smart charging schedules.

When your car and charger both support ISO 15118, they can exchange information about your car's battery capacity, preferred charge level, departure time, and energy pricing. This allows the charger to optimize the session, potentially charging when electricity is cheapest or managing power across multiple vehicles.

As a driver, you benefit from ISO 15118 without needing to understand the technical details. The most visible benefit is Plug & Charge: plug in, charging starts, payment happens automatically. Future benefits include vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, where your car could sell stored energy back to the grid during peak demand.

For technical specifications, see International Organization for Standardization.

Where you'll see this

• In vehicle specifications

Common confusion

People sometimes think ISO 15118 and Plug & Charge are the same thing. ISO 15118 is the broader standard. Plug & Charge is one feature enabled by ISO 15118. The standard also covers smart charging, V2G, and more.

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