The Vehicle Interoperability Testing Symposium (VOLTS), organized by CharIN and sponsored by the California Energy Commission, will support EV charging interoperability
LONG BEACH, California – (March 9, 2023) – As demand for electric vehicles skyrockets, the urgency to expand a flawless customer charging experience through the proper application of open and interoperable charging standards grows.
Thanks in part to the generous contributions of the California Energy Commission, automakers and EV charging hardware and software providers from North America and beyond will be attending a major interoperability testing event from May 9-11, 2023 at the new WattEV Port of Long Beach Megawatt Charging-capable location. The event is organized by EV testing expert organization, the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN). This event will focus primarily on a major international EV communications standard, ISO 15118, which unlocks a wide-variety of customer-friendly solutions, including the highly popular Plug & Charge feature.
According to Patty Monahan, a Commissioner at the California Energy Commission (CEC), “California’s ambitious goals to support a 100% zero emission transportation future require a robust and reliable EV charging network. Whether driving an electric car or big rig truck, consumers should have a charging experience that is at least as good as refueling at a gas station. CEC is happy to support one of the largest testing events in North America, which will improve charger reliability and the customer experience.”
CharIN will bring together an estimated 50 different manufacturers to perform one of the single largest EV testing events in North America. CharIN is a leading industry association driving global decarbonization through the worldwide electrification of transportation. Members of CharIN include global automotive manufacturers, charging station companies, component suppliers, energy providers, government officials, research institutes, influencers, and grid operators. In addition to the testing event, there will be a one-day hybrid conference featuring EV experts from across the public and private sectors.
WattEV is building a nationwide network of heavy-duty charging facilities, starting in Southern California, that will serve fleets of electric trucks, and has been in testing with several shippers and carriers along major freight corridors. Expanding services through this partnership, routes are being developed from the Port of Long Beach to the Inland Empire and Central Valley and will be expanded to Northern California and Arizona.
“We are so excited to be the selected host of this year’s CharIN VOLTS event,” said WattEV CEO, Salim Youssefzadeh. “This is an exciting opportunity to connect with the great minds of this industry and see the latest innovations in the space. As proud CharIN members, we look forward to inviting thought leaders to our Port of Long Beach site.”
“We are thrilled to partner with WattEV to host this major testing event and conference. Given new federal rules requiring ISO 15118 compliance for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funding, this event will provide critical support to the EV industry,” stated CharIN North America Executive Director, Erika Myers.
“We have been able to accompany the success story of CharIN Testivals and now VOLTS. These kinds of testing events not only generate valuable insights, but also bring together the global community to accelerate an international knowledge-transfer. We are pleased with the thought leadership and commitment of the CEC and WattEV to interoperability,” added Andrè Kaufung, Managing Director of CharIN e.V.
Details about the event can be found at http://VOLTStesting.com.
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. More information is available online at https://www.charin.global/contact/north-america/.
About WattEV WattEV’s mission is to accelerate the transition of U.S. trucking transport to zero emissions. Using a combination of business and technology innovations, WattEV creates charging infrastructure and data-driven workflow that provide truckers and fleet operators the lowest total cost of ownership. WattEV’s goal is to put 12,000 heavy-duty electric trucks on California roads by the end of 2030, exceeding existing forecasts. More information is available online at www.WattEV.com.
Contacts:
Carina Pombar, CharIN
carina.pombar@charin.global
Michael Coates, WattEV
mcoates@mightycomm.com
Wow, this is so cool! It's great to see new car testing events like this. I think electric cars will be awesome for the future. If cars like these have any problems, flatbed tow truck services will be really helpful to get them to the repair shop. It's good to have strong services like that around, just in case!