DEKRA Collaborates with California Energy Commission for Testing and Certification Services of Electric Vehicles
DEKRA has opened a Vehicle-Grid Innovation Laboratory in partnership with California Energy Commission. The Vehicle-Grid Innovation Laboratory (ViGIL) from DEKRA offers state-of-the-art testing and certification services for future mobility. The Concord, California, USA, facility offers functional, conformance, and interoperability testing for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and charging infrastructure.
Created in partnership with the California Energy Commission, ViGIL seeks to transform the transportation sector by improving the interoperability of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. It also seeks to increase the capacity and throughput of EVSE standards testing and expand testing for electric vehicle charging equipment. Meeting these challenges is critical, as California transitions to 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035, and to ensure a seamless charging experience for consumers.
“Interoperability is key to ensuring that electric vehicle drivers can easily charge their cars at any charging station,” said Patty Monahan, Transportation Commissioner at the California Energy Commission. “We awarded DEKRA funding to establish the Vehicle-Grid Innovation Lab to meet this challenge head-on and provide essential testing and certification services, including those required to access federal and state funding.”
ViGIL offers a range of services for EV and EVSE manufacturers and suppliers, charging point operators, and service providers. These tests meet regulatory and industry requirements to launch EVSE in the market, as well as those necessary, to apply for federal or state funds, such as the $7.5 billion allocated for EV charging in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“The opening of ViGIL is a critical step to further the electrification of the automotive industry and transition to alternative fuel sources,” said Bert Zoetbrood, President of DEKRA Americas. “DEKRA will continue to expand the state-of-the-art service offerings at ViGIL to further solidify our position as the leader in future mobility testing and certification.”
This builds upon the company’s capabilities in EV and EVSE charging globally, including facilities for OCPP, CharIN, safety, and EMC/RF testing in Sterling, Virginia; Shanghai, China; and Arnhem, Netherlands. Through its worldwide network of laboratories, DEKRA offers a range of testing services for electric, connected, and automated vehicles, including cybersecurity services, laboratory testing, field testing; and regulatory certification services, such as FCC Part 15 and Part 90 for U.S. market access.
The new test facility in Concord is part of DEKRA’s strategy of increasing its investment in the future of e-mobility. DEKRA is currently investing in electromobility at various locations. Recently, the company inaugurated a new open-area testing facility at its site in Arnhem (Netherlands) for measuring electromagnetic compatibility on large vehicles such as electric buses or e-trucks. In 2020, a state-of-the-art laboratory for end-to-end testing of charging infrastructure was opened there and recently a new tester for electric motors and axles started operations at the DEKRA Technology Center at the Lausitzring race rack in Germany. Furthermore, in November 2022 DEKRA announced to set up a testing center for large automotive and stationary batteries at the DEKRA Technology Center.
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