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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Together, these three parties form an interconnected network of responsibility for maintaining Eichrecht compliance throughout the lifecycle of the charging stations.
Achieving Eichrecht compliance involves several key steps that manufacturers must follow.
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.
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