CharIN Response to FHWA Rulemaking

February 15, 2023 - Washington, D.C. 

CharIN Applauds the Federal Highway Administration for Accelerating Interoperability and Open Standards in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program

The Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN e. V.) and its subsidiary, CharIN North America (operating as CharIN Inc.), applaud the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for releasing the final National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Standards and Requirements rule, which will accelerate EV interoperability and open standards in the United States.

CharIN commends the FHWA for taking action to ensure investments in national EV infrastructure is universal, accessible, and equitable and meets the country’s vehicle electrification goals.  

CharIN is the largest global association focused on the electrification of all forms of transportation based on the seamless and interoperable charging experience enabled by the only global, open standard for communication between vehicles and chargers, the Combined Charging System (CCS) and ISO 15118.

CCS and ISO 15118 offer a convenient Plug & Charge charging experience to the EV driver that will improve payment transactions, alleviate range anxiety, and bolster EV adoption. Further, by providing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, CCS will support a stable, resilient, and efficient electric grid.


News Info

Published on: 02/16/2023

CharIN supports the FHWA’s announcement to require CCS and ISO 15118 capable chargers for light-duty vehicles, specifically:

1. Connector Types: Each DC Fast Charging (DCFC) charging port must be capable of charging any CCS-compliant vehicle and each DCFC charging port must have at least one permanently attached CCS Type 1 connector.

2. Interoperability of Charger-to-EV Communication: Chargers must conform to ISO 15118-3 and must have hardware capable of implementing both ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20; further charger software must conform to ISO 15118-2 and be capable of Plug & Charge by early 2024.

3. Conformance Testing: Conformance testing for charger software and hardware should follow ISO 15118-4 and ISO 15118-5, respectively.


CharIN North America Board Chair, Oleg Logvinov, stated, “This is an incredible milestone marking the next phase of EV adoption. As we learned from history, adoption of open standards enables economies of scale and accelerates deployment. Wi-Fi and cellular phones are great examples of how open standards have changed the world. The exponential growth of EV adoption was just unlocked today by these NEVI requirements.”

CharIN e. V. Executive Board Chair, Claas Bracklo, added, “ISO 15118 based Plug & Charge is now the global standard enabling a truly seamless charging experience. It is supported by a worldwide ecosystem of companies working on interoperability, conformance and compliance testing, education, and PKI-related activities. CharIN launched interoperability efforts almost a decade ago, and it is truly gratifying to see the importance of interoperability recognized in the NEVI Standards and Requirements rules.”

The United States can only meet its electric vehicle targets and decarbonize the transportation sector through the nationwide deployment of universal, reliable charging infrastructure. CCS and ISO 15118 create a platform for interoperability, which is key to unlocking innovation and exponential growth throughout the e-mobility ecosystem, as well as a convenient, accessible charging experience for consumers.


About CharIN Inc.
The Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) Inc. serves as a leading industry association bringing CharIN’s global approach to decarbonization through the electrification of North American transport. Convening together industrywide e-mobility stakeholders, including automakers, charging station manufacturers, component suppliers, energy providers, government officials, and grid operators, our organization assists members in coordinating, advancing, and advocating for interoperability across electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Driving forward the widely-adopted Combined Charging System (CCS) and the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) platforms, CharIN works to ensure all electric vehicles – from light-duty passenger cars to freight trucks, e-ferries, ships, and planes – can work seamlessly with available charging stations and services. CharIN serves as a pivotal, unified voice for industry-standard, interoperable charging technologies and best practices, working with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and policymakers to unleash innovation and encourage the rapid adoption of electric vehicles in municipal, commercial, and private use. www.charin.us


About CharIN e. V.
The Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) is the leading global association with nearly 300 international members dedicated to promoting interoperability based on the Combined Charging System (CCS) and the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) as the global standard for charging vehicles of all kinds. Our goals include expanding the global network of companies supporting CCS, drafting requirements to accelerate the evolution of charging related standards, and defining a certification system for all manufacturers implementing CCS in their products. www.charin.global 

News contacts

Erika Myers

Executive Director, Charging Interface Initiative North America (CharIN Inc.)

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