EVSE Field Standards

The successful commercialization of electricity as a zero-emission transportation fuel in California requires the rapid deployment of a state-wide network of commercial electric vehicle fueling systems (EVFS) capable of reliably and accurately fueling (charging) battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Successful commercialization and consumer acceptance of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) depend on hydrogen and electricity as reliable vehicle fuels. Standardized fueling infrastructure is essential to providing the consumer with a basis-of-value comparison and providing marketplace transparency and fair competition for industry.

California weights and measures laws and regulations establish standards to minimize measurement errors in commercial transactions and provide operating requirements that are consistently applied in the exchange of goods and services. Adherence to these standards provides both buyers and sellers an assurance of equity and confidence.

Prior to full scale commercialization, devices used in commercial transactions must undergo type evaluation testing to assure that the measuring device is accurate; repeatable; designed to operate in the conditions it will be exposed to; cannot be used to defraud customers, and a fair and accurate accounting of all measurements and charges is communicated to the customer. Type evaluation determines whether a device design conforms to the specifications, tolerances, and user requirements as adopted by the Department of Food and Agriculture pursuant to authority granted the Secretary in Business and Professions Code (BPC) 12107. As of January 1, 2023, only type approved EVFS are authorized to be sold, installed, and placed in service for commercial purposes in California.

The responsibility to inspect and verify conformance to established commercial device requirements for EVFS is born by the local County Sealer of Weights and Measures, who, with the support of technical training and oversight provided by the Division of Measurement Standards, ensures that all commercial devices installed in their jurisdiction are correct. 

The purpose of routine field testing is to ensure installed devices conform to all applicable standards and to minimize the measurement error in commercial transactions. There exists a significant and growing gap between the on-going and planned commercial ZEV fueling systems installations and available test equipment (field standards) needed by county officials to inspect, test, and seal new devices being installed in their respective jurisdiction.

The provisions of Division 5 of the California Business and Professions Code (sections 12001 et seq.) and Title 4, Division 9, of the California Code and Regulations (sections 4000 et seq.), provide the legal authority for the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) to apply basic weights and measures requirements to all commercial devices used to dispense electricity for fueling ZEVs.

CDFA is required by law to regulate weighing and measuring devices used in commerce. Business and Professions Code, section 12107, requires CDFA to establish specifications and tolerances for all commercial weighing and measuring devices. This includes motor vehicle fuel dispensing systems. Once these parameters are established, it is incumbent upon weights and measures officials to test, verify, and seal commercial devices.

The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA) EVSE subcommittee found that a majority of counties do not have the necessary field standards and are reluctant to procure them at current cost levels. DMS currently has five field standards for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and only two that are available to share with the counties for field testing, verification, and sealing of installed commercial ZEV fueling systems. All the existing field standards have the ability to test AC and DC chargers up to 200A. With the current number of field standards, an average of 150 EVSE can be tested in the working day. However, this does not consider travel time to various EVSE or to the EVSE located in separate counties. As the number of EVSE installed across the state continues to grow into the tens of thousands of commercial installations, increasing the number of field standards in circulation is vital to address a growing bottleneck in the verification and activation of newly installed EVSE.

On the state support level, DMS only had five field standards for EVFS to support the counties for field testing, verification and sealing of installed commercial EVFS. Two of DMS’ EVFS standards are dedicated to type-evaluation of new commercial EVFS designs. As the backlog for system testing and verification grows, the push for transportation electrification is accelerating and the essential support systems that will keep the growing EV market viable need to be in place to support an equitable and consistent marketplace that fosters the continued adoption of zero emission vehicle technology. The acquisition of fifteen new field standards and associated test equipment will provide much needed support to county officials and improve responsiveness of counties to test and seal EVFS installed in their jurisdictions while they make efforts to add test equipment of their own as demand and funding dictate.