Metrological Regulation for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Spain: Order ITU/1475/2024

Transparency and Accuracy in Electric Vehicle Charging

In a scenario of increasing adoption of electric mobility, improving the metrological control of chargers was necessary as their control was less rigorous than in other areas, such as household electricity meters or refueling at gas stations. This regulation is especially important for direct current (DC) chargers where there could be discrepancies in billing. Unlike alternating current (AC) chargers, where the energy consumed measured on the AC charger side is billed to the customer, DC systems have losses in the hose and other system components that must be deducted to ensure that the energy actually consumed by the customer is billed. This even involves calibrating the hoses, so that if a hose needs to be replaced in the field, the correct measurement of energy consumed is maintained.

Technical Requirements for Charging Stations

Order ITU/1475/2024 establishes a series of technical obligations for charging operators and station manufacturers. Among the most relevant aspects is the need to have certified meters that ensure the accuracy in the measurement of the electricity supplied. Additionally, stations must provide an accessible interface for users to consult details such as the price per kWh, charging power, and the applied hourly rate.

Each charging station, regardless of whether it is alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC), must undergo a certification process to verify that it meets the standards required by the regulations. Three levels of accuracy have been defined for ECVE: Class A, with a greater margin of error allowed; Class B, with medium accuracy; and Class C, which offers the highest accuracy in measurement. Manufacturers will be responsible for defining the accuracy class of their stations, ensuring that the margin of error is within acceptable limits.

Bidirectional Energy Transfer

The regulation also includes those charging stations that are capable of transferring energy bidirectionally, from the charging station to the electric vehicle and vice versa, and therefore, must also meet the requirements of this regulation in both directions, and must have a recorder for each direction.

Implementation Deadlines for New and In-Service Stations and Periodic Verifications

Charging stations that are in service at the time this order comes into effect will have a period of four years from its entry into force to be regularized according to the requirements of the new standard (through retrofit). During the next two years, charging stations that have not passed the conformity assessment can continue to be installed, but like the stations in service, they must be adapted to this standard within four years. Any modification to a charging station must be carried out by an authorized repairer registered in the metrological control register.

Periodic verification will be carried out every 8 years and must be performed by an Authorized Metrological Verification Body.

Historical and Geographical Context

Order ITU/1475/2024 is part of a broader context of metrological regulation that began in Germany and has extended to other countries. Based on German regulations, the OILM (the international organization of legal metrology) created a guide for each country to adapt at the national level. California and Canada have also developed their own regulations. In Spain, the regulation aims to ensure that the energy billed to the customer is the energy actually consumed, deducting losses in the hose and other components. Additionally, EN standards for DC meters have been published to be introduced into the MID directive, ensuring that the energy actually consumed by the customer is billed. The specific metering guide from OIML addresses this first point.

Other Points to Address Beyond Metrological Change: Cybersecurity

• Anti-tampering: It must be ensured that the measurement chain is not altered and must be "sealed" to guarantee its integrity.
• Cybersecurity: When authenticating through any application or making a payment through a payment terminal, a series of requirements must be ensured.
• Payment Solutions: Since July 2024, all fast charging points must have contactless payment terminals.

Applus+ Laboratories has experience evaluating the cybersecurity of electric vehicle chargers, and its experts are prepared to conduct independent evaluations or under certification schemes recognized nationally and internationally.

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The different actors in the electric vehicle charging ecosystem must adapt to this regulation and others that are to come. Contact us to learn more and see how we can help you from Applus+ Laboratories.