Closing the Compliance Gap: Validating EV Chargers Ahead of ISO 15118-20

Why It Matters

The solution lets OEMs and charger makers close the regulatory‑compliance gap, reducing time‑to‑market risk and avoiding costly redesigns as ISO 15118‑20 certification approaches.

Key Takeaways

• EU AFIR requires ISO 15118-20 compliance by Jan 2027.
• Formal conformance tests for ISO 15118-20 AC expected only late 2027.
• Keysight offers early validation via EV/EVSE emulation with TLS 1.3.
• Integrated power‑in‑the‑loop testing links protocol messages to real electrical response.

Pulse Analysis

The EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation has accelerated the rollout of next‑generation electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure. By imposing a hard deadline of January 2027 for ISO 15118‑20 compliance, the rule forces manufacturers to embed advanced features such as TLS 1.3 mutual authentication, Plug‑and‑Charge, and bidirectional power transfer. Yet the official conformance test suites for AC charging are slated for release only after that deadline, leaving a critical validation window unaddressed and exposing developers to certification delays.

Keysight Technologies’ test platform bridges this gap by decoupling validation from the standardisation timeline. Its solution emulates both the vehicle and the charger, supporting the full ISO 15118‑20 AC message set, manual timing control, and error injection. By integrating protocol testing with power hardware‑in‑the‑loop, engineers can observe synchronized communication and real‑world electrical responses, enabling continuous verification within CI/CD pipelines. Security scenarios—including TLS handshakes, certificate expiry, and PKI mismatches—are also simulated, ensuring robust Plug‑and‑Charge implementations before formal certification.

For the broader EV ecosystem, early validation translates into faster time‑to‑market and lower development costs. OEMs can test bidirectional power‑flow commands and safety logic under realistic conditions, mitigating the risk of late‑stage redesigns. As the industry moves toward ubiquitous V2G (vehicle‑to‑grid) services, having an automated, integrated test architecture becomes a competitive differentiator. Keysight’s approach not only safeguards compliance with upcoming EU mandates but also positions manufacturers to capitalize on emerging revenue streams tied to smart, interoperable charging networks.