CharIN: Faster charging for electric vehicles
The group includes automotive OEMs Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen as well as suppliers Mennekes and PhoenixContact. Their common denominator and the goal of the CharIN (Charging Interface Initiative) is the Combined Charging System – a standards proposal of the above-mentioned players that competes against the Japan-led ChaDeMo standard. “When it comes to quick charging stations, we rely on the CCS standard along with our partners in the CharIN group”, said Audi Electronics and Electrics Development Director Rick Hudi at the event in Baden-Baden. “It is powerful, mature and comfortable.”
Their next interim goal is developing a charging column at an electric power of 150 kW – significantly more than Tesla with currently some 110 kW. At ELIV, the charging initiative and their supporting OEMs showcased a number of electric vehicles equipped according to the CCS specifications.
CCS enables charging of electric cars with alternating and direct current through a unified standard charging interface, called Combo plug. The technology is already implemented in Audi’s electric sports car R8 e-tron and the e-tron Quattro concept vehicle. With CCS, the e-tron Quattro concept’s battery can be charged within 30 minutes to a range of 400 kilometres; with full battery the vehicle drives up to 500 kilometres.
The group expects the standard to be approved by the European Union by 2017 at latest.
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