Volvo calls for standardised electric vehicle charging

Volvo has called for the automotive industry to strive towards the introduction of a standardised charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs).

According to Peter Mertens, the company’s senior vice president for Research and Development, a simple, standardised and fast charging infrastructure is essential to support the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and ensure more customers fully embrace the technology.

Mertens said: “We see that a shift towards fully electric cars is already underway, as battery technology improves, costs fall and charging infrastructure is put in place. But while we are ready from a technology perspective, the charging infrastructure is not quite there yet. To really make range anxiety a thing of the past, a globally standardised charging system is sorely needed.”

Volvo is backing the Charging Interface Initiative, a consortium of stakeholders who have come together to establish the Combined Charging System (CCS) as the standard for charging battery-powered vehicles.

The CCS offers both regular and fast charging capabilities, combining single-phase with rapid three-phase charging, using alternating current at a maximum of 43kW, as well as direct-current charging at a maximum of 200kW, all in a single system.

Volvo believes that this system will make EV ownership increasingly practical and convenient, and the Charging Interface Initiative is currently drawing up plans for charging-related standards and certification for use by car makers around the globe.

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