During the CharIN Testival Europe 2025 held in Spain, we conducted a three-day series of interoperability tests focusing on AC High-Level Charging (HLC) and ISO15118 communication. The event brought together multiple OEMs and testing tool providers and offered a practical environment for validating interoperability across different implementations.
Throughout the sessions, we worked with several OEMs and tool partners to evaluate key AC charging communication processes, including:
- ISO15118-2 and ISO15118-20 session establishment
- Plug&Charge (PnC) authentication flows
- EIM and AutoCharge procedures
- Charge mode handling and parameter negotiation
- Behavioral variations in different AC start-up approaches
These tests helped us better understand how various systems implement AC HLC and provided reference data for product refinement and future collaboration.
Day-by-Day Summary
Day 1 – Mercedes-Benz
- Initiated AC interoperability testing, covering the main ISO15118-2 communication steps.
- Technical teams exchanged implementation details to prepare for more comprehensive follow-up sessions.
- A continuation of testing in Stuttgart has been planned to expand scenario coverage.
Day 2 – Keysight, Nissan, Hyundai
Keysight (Testing Tool Partner)
- Completed the full ISO15118-2 and ISO15118-20 PnC workflow, including session establishment, certificate processing, and authentication.
- Joint analysis during the tests supported efficient verification of message handling.
- The sessions provided practical insights into ISO15118-20 behavior in AC charging scenarios.
Nissan
- Evaluated multiple AC start-up procedures and communication interactions.
- Test cases included EVSE-to-EV message exchange and session initialization under different operating modes.
- Results contribute to ongoing compatibility assessment across diverse implementations.
Hyundai
- Completed ISO15118-2 PnC verification with consistent workflow behavior.
- Additional tests for ISO15118-20 are planned once future software updates become available.
- The sessions added useful reference points for AC HLC implementation alignment.
Day 3 – Volkswagen, DS, Vector, Mercedes-Benz EQS
Volkswagen ID.5
- Verified the ISO15118-2 EIM process, with stable communication throughout the session.
- The test provided further validation for multi-mode AC charging behavior.
DS (Stellantis Group)
- Completed AutoCharge and BC mode tests and validated smooth transitions between different authentication methods.
- The results support a broader understanding of AC charging strategies across vehicle platforms.
Vector (Testing Tool Partner)
- Conducted AC HLC message consistency checks using Vector’s validation tools.
- The tool’s strict message-format requirements helped further refine protocol parsing and communication robustness.
- The sessions followed the latest ISO15118 specifications as part of ongoing interoperability alignment.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
- Completed ISO15118-2 AC workflow testing, including start-up procedures and parameter negotiation.
- Communication remained stable across the evaluated steps.
The CharIN Testival provided a constructive setting for AC charging interoperability evaluation across different OEMs and testing platforms. The sessions enabled:
- Verification across multiple brands and protocol versions
- Assessment of various authentication and start-up strategies
- Comparison of ISO15118 implementation details
- Planning for continued joint testing and development
We appreciate the support from CharIN e.V., participating OEMs, and tool partners. The insights gathered will assist in ongoing product optimization and in supporting broader adoption of AC HLC, Plug & Charge, and ISO15118-related technologies.