CharIN and American Center for Mobility Join Forces to Champion EV Charging Interoperability 

To support rapid vehicle electrification, the Charging Interface Initiative Inc. (CharIN Inc.) and the American Center for Mobility (ACM) have entered into a MOU to cooperate on strategic priorities related to electric vehicle (EV) charging. The growth in EV production and adoption, along with the expanding number of charging stations from a variety of manufacturers, brings significant challenges, particularly around ensuring all platforms work seamlessly to provide drivers with a convenient charging experience. Together, CharIN and ACM will help accelerate the development and testing of robust industry standards with the ultimate goal of making EV charging better and more attractive than a gas station experience.     

CharIN Inc. is a registered association with members across the entire EV charging value chain and open to all interested parties, including leading companies from the automotive sector, charging industry, and other associated industries. CharIN is focused on expanding the global EV network by coordinating companies in the value chain to support and promote open EV industry standards including, SAE J3400, ISO 15118/ DIN SPEC 70121, SAE J1772 and IEC 62196, which are the building blocks of CCS, MCS & NACS and other relevant international standards. CharIN is defining a conformance testing and certification system for all manufacturers implementing those standards. 

"CharIN is accelerating the evolution of EV charging standards to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding consumer base," says Erika Myers, Executive Director at CharIN North America. "Partnering with ACM will merge CharIN’s knowledge and membership with ACM’s open testing and validation facilities to address interoperability issues. Our goal is to establish this industry-led testing facility to support the needs of current and future EV equipment and achieve the perfect customer charging experience.”

The American Center for Mobility is a global development center for safe, sustainable, and secure mobility technologies. Perhaps best known for its advanced proving ground for connected and automated vehicles, ACM recently announced plans to move forward on its first phase of an EV Charging and Interoperability test bed as a place where OEMs, CPOs, and EVSE’s can access a market representation of chargers and to collaborate to bring seamless charging experiences to consumers. ACM expects to begin EV testing operations in early 2024.

"A partnership between CharIN and ACM will marry standards with infrastructure for testing and validation,” says ACM CEO, Reuben Sarkar. "This will provide a one-stop shop for the mobility industry to collaborate and improve the consumer charging experience.”