First of its kind: Switch and P3 Energy Lab unveil new test environment for green mobility innovation

• The new test environment helps global charger- and automakers to meet the highest EV charging standards. This is an essential step towards fixing the fragmented market with compatible and powerful solutions.
• The test lab raises standards in EV charging and manufacturing and also helps fix the fragmented EV charging and sustainable energy market.
• EV charger- and automakers can test that their products and services meet all applicable safety and communication standards.
• The partnership improves compatibility and performance between various electric vehicles, chargers, backend and energy management systems.

London, United Kingdom/Osnabrück, Germany – P3 Energy Lab, a cutting-edge test centre for improving standards compliance and interoperability between EV charging hardware and software components, has partnered with Switch to conduct end-to-end integration testing with OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118-compliant vehicles and chargers.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Marc Mültin, Founder and CEO of Switch, said:

“This partnership provides the most complete test space yet for EV charging and auto manufacturing.

“With Switch in the P3 Energy Lab, charger and car manufacturers can test  that their products and services are fit for current and future EV charging demands and comply with the latest and best standards such as OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118.”

Jozsef Farkas, a partner at P3 and one of the leads for the P3 Energy Lab in Osnabrück, added:

“We are very pleased with the collaboration. Switch is one of the leading players in ISO 15118 and OCPP 2.0.1 implementation, making them a crucial enabler for the seamless integration of electric vehicles into the energy ecosystem.

“Our mission with our new P3 Energy Lab is to address interoperability challenges for our clients and create an open space for new technologies and innovations in the field of charging and interaction with the smart energy market.”

What are OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118?

OCPP 2.0.1 (Open Charge Point Protocol) is a communication protocol that facilitates the transfer of information (interoperability) between charging stations and Charging Station Management Systems (CSMS). Standard-compliant components can be swapped and replaced without disruption to functionality.

ISO 15118 is the industry's gold standard for transferring power and information between electric vehicles and chargers. It not only enables Plug & Charge (PnC) for zero-touch charging but also bi-directional power transfer and secure, intelligent charging functions on a global scale.

Together, these two communication protocols help Charge Point Operators (CPOs) to better monitor and operate their charging network and to offer a seamless and elevated charging experience for EV drivers.

One-stop-shop for testing EV charging systems or components

The Switch Platform is the first CSMS that offers both OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1, and that has been certified for OCPP 2.0.1.

Additionally, it also supports ISO 15118 Plug & Charge, for which it was recently audited by Hubject. Hubject is the ecosystem provider for the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that makes Plug & Charge secure and reliable.

That’s why P3 Energy Lab has hand-picked Switch as its testing partner. Charging station (CS) and EV manufacturers can use Switch and P3's testing environment to test that their products meet the latest and best industry standards (OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118).

Powered by the capabilities of the Switch Platform, the P3 Energy Lab now offers a wide range of smart charging and bi-directional power flow tests, including its sophisticated solar system simulator.

This offering is unique. Other test labs don’t provide the ability to test integration with solar energy and Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). The tests involve smart charging scenarios based on price signals and various solar generation profiles.

P3 Energy Lab can also provide integration and firmware testing for other communication protocols, such as EEBus and Modbus. Training and workshops are also available.

Why this news matters to charger and auto manufacturers

The test lab will let manufacturers demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards and market-specific standards. This is a crucial stage for manufacturers on their way to certify that a product meets all applicable safety and communication standards.

The collaboration between Switch and P3 will also help EV and charger manufacturers better prepare their products for certification via DEKRA, CE and TÜV.

Perhaps even more importantly, the partnership between the P3 Energy Lab and Switch will help to develop products that can create a cohesive, effortless charging experience from renewable resources for electric vehicle users.

About P3

P3 is a leading international consulting, engineering, and software development services company boasting a growing team of over 1,800 experts across various industries.

Established in 1996, P3 has consistently excelled in aiding clients with business transformation, technological innovations, and software solutions.

With a broad portfolio of services and solutions catering to diverse industries, P3 excels in both the automotive and energy sectors. For more information, please visit P3's website.

For all media inquiries, we kindly request you to reach out to our Chief Communications Officer, Kristina Svetlov at [email protected]

About Switch

Switch is a fast-growing tech and knowledge company on a mission to fix the broken EV charging ecosystem. Switch offers the only future-proof and backwards-compatible EV charging system on the market.

The company was founded in London in 2020 by Dr Marc Mültin, a world-renowned leader in the communication standards that underpin the global EV charging ecosystem.

Marc is available for press questions related to this release.

As the co-author of ISO 15118, Marc is uniquely qualified to explain the significance of open communications protocols for EV charging and provide commentary on the ecosystem in general.

To schedule a call with Marc, send an enquiry to our Marketing and Communications Director Ben Kegler at [email protected].