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As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, so does the demand for reliable and accurate EV charging infrastructure. In Germany, one of the most critical legal requirements for selling EV chargers is Eichrecht compliance. Eichrecht, or the Weights and Measures Act, governs legal metrology in the country and ensures the accuracy of measurement devices used in commerce. For EV charger manufacturers, understanding and adhering to these compliance standards is crucial to entering and thriving in the German market.
For EV charger manufacturers, understanding and adhering to these compliance standards is crucial to entering and thriving in the German market. At ecoG, we simplify the complex path to Eichrecht compliance by providing our expert support, helping you develop certified chargers faster, more efficiently, and with confidence.
What is Eichrecht?
Eichrecht is a legal framework that regulates the accuracy and fairness of measurement instruments in Germany, covering everything from scales to energy meters. For public EV chargers, compliance with Eichrecht is required, specifically chargers that are used by the general public and involve billing for energy consumption. In other words, public charging stations, where users pay for the electricity they use, are subject to Eichrecht regulations, ensuring that energy measurements are accurate and consumers are billed fairly.
The Role of Eichrecht in Germany
Eichrecht compliance ensures that the measurement systems used in public EV chargers are accurate, transparent, and verifiable. Without compliance, manufacturers would not be able to legally sell their chargers in Germany.
How It Affects EV Chargers
If your charging station involves energy metering and price calculation that is linked to billing, you must ensure that your equipment meets Eichrecht standards. This means:
- The energy dispensed by your charger must be measured accurately.
- The price calculation must be based on the correct amount of energy consumed.
- The system should allow consumers to trust that they are being charged fairly for their electricity usage.
Why Eichrecht Compliance is Essential for EV Chargers
Ensuring Fairness and Protecting Consumers
Eichrecht compliance is fundamentally about ensuring fairness in energy transactions. By enforcing strict accuracy standards, it guarantees that consumers are charged precisely for the electricity they use, eliminating the risk of overcharging. This level of transparency is crucial not just for consumer protection but for maintaining trust in the broader EV market. Without such regulations, the integrity of the charging infrastructure could be compromised, potentially discouraging widespread adoption of EVs.
Meeting Legal Requirements for Market Entry
In Germany, compliance with Eichrecht is a legal necessity for any public EV charger that charges consumers based on energy consumption. Without meeting these requirements, manufacturers cannot sell their charging stations in the market. Thus, obtaining Eichrecht certification is not just a regulatory box to check—it is a fundamental step for market access and success.
Enhancing Market Appeal and Consumer Confidence
For manufacturers, Eichrecht compliance serves as a key differentiator in a competitive marketplace. When consumers see that a charger is Eichrecht certified, they can be confident that they are being charged accurately and fairly. This not only promotes customer trust but also strengthens the reputation of your brand, potentially increasing the likelihood of consumers choosing your charging stations over others.
Key Requirements for Eichrecht Compliance in EV Chargers
Certification and Testing
Before your EV charger can be legally sold in Germany, it must undergo rigorous testing by an accredited Agency. The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is the official body responsible for issuing Eichrecht certification. Both hardware (such as the energy measurement system) and software (that handles energy metering and pricing calculations) must be tested to meet the necessary accuracy standards.
Accuracy Standards
For EV chargers, the measurement of energy dispensed must be highly precise to ensure fair billing for consumers. The Eichrecht regulations require that the energy measured by the charging station matches the actual energy consumed. The measurement system must be accurate enough to reflect small variations in energy usage, ensuring that both manufacturers and consumers can trust the system's reliability and fairness. If the energy measurement system falls outside the acceptable margin of error, the charger cannot be certified, and the manufacturer would need to make adjustments to meet the required standards.
Verification Process
Once testing is complete, your charger must undergo initial verification. This involves submitting your test results to PTB for formal approval. If the charger meets all Eichrecht standards, it will be certified for use. Additionally, chargers must undergo periodic re-verification, usually every 2 to 4 years, to ensure ongoing compliance. This re-verification accounts for any changes in technology, wear and tear, or software updates that could affect the accuracy of measurements.
Software and Firmware Compliance
Eichrecht also extends to the software used to manage and calculate energy consumption and pricing. It’s essential that any updates to your charger’s software do not impact its compliance. If software updates alter the measurement or billing processes, the charger will need to be re-tested and re-certified.
Eichrecht Roles Across the EV Charging Ecosystem
The responsibility for Eichrecht compliance doesn't fall solely on the shoulders of manufacturers. Other stakeholders in the EV charging ecosystem, such as Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and e-Mobility Providers (EMPs), must also adhere to Eichrecht standards.
- Charger Manufacturers: As the creators of the charging stations, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products meet Eichrecht standards for energy metering and price calculation. This includes submitting the charger for initial testing and certification, as well as ensuring that updates do not impact compliance.
- CPOs: Charge Point Operators are responsible for managing and operating the chargers. They must ensure that chargers under their operation remain compliant over time by conducting regular maintenance and adhering to re-verification schedules.
- EMPs: e-Mobility Providers, who handle billing and payment systems for charging stations, are also responsible for ensuring that the data used for billing is accurate and compliant with Eichrecht standards.
Together, these three parties form an interconnected network of responsibility for maintaining Eichrecht compliance throughout the lifecycle of the charging stations.
Steps to Achieve Eichrecht Compliance for EV Chargers
Achieving Eichrecht compliance involves several key steps that manufacturers must follow.
- Evaluate Your Product's Requirements
Determine whether your EV charger requires Eichrecht compliance. If your charging station involves metering energy usage and billing public consumers, you will need to ensure compliance with Eichrecht standards. - Work with Accredited Testing Laboratories
Choose a PTB-accredited testing agency to assess your EV charger. These labs will test the accuracy of both the hardware and software used in your charging station to ensure it meets Eichrecht standards. EcoG refers you to the right partners and helps you prepare your documentation, ensuring smoother testing and fewer iterations. - Submit for Certification
Once testing is complete and your product passes all requirements, submit your documentation to PTB for initial verification. If all standards are met, your charger will receive the necessary certification to be legally sold in Germany. With EcoG’s support, you can submit your certification with full confidence. We have experience assisting manufacturers in navigating PTB submissions, ensuring precision, thoroughness, and complete preparedness at every stage. - Ensure Ongoing Compliance with Re-Verification
Even after achieving initial certification, your charger will need periodic re-verification to ensure it remains compliant over time. If you make changes to the software or hardware, be sure to re-test the system and resubmit for certification as needed.
Eichrecht compliance is a crucial step for any EV charger manufacturer looking to enter the German market. Understanding the legal metrology requirements for energy measurement, testing, and certification is essential to ensure that your product is both legally compliant and trusted by consumers. ecoG helps you navigate this process with efficiency and precision, offering expert support during testing and certification, while ensuring you avoid costly mistakes. By adhering to Eichrecht standards with ecoG’s guidance, manufacturers can confidently enter the market, avoid legal issues, and foster customer trust—ultimately helping to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.
About EcoG
Headquartered in Munich, Germany and Detroit, Michigan, US, the international tech company EcoG is working on the rapid and efficient expansion of reliable and smart DC charging stations for electric vehicles. Driving forward energy sustainability. With its product, the EcoG Universal Core, an agnostic IoT control platform for EV chargers, EcoG specializes in enabling large manufacturers to get their charging products to market faster and with lower risk. With its charging technology, EcoG is already the market leader in Europe with more than 15% market share in Europe. EcoG is expanding internationally, already with 11% market share in India and first large-scale customers in production in North America. Its clients include several Fortune 500 companies, such as Siemens, Dover Fueling Solutions, ABB and Valeo.
Press Contact EcoG:
Veronika Dickert, Communications
veronika@ecog.io
+49 151 57594751
