One of the biggest obstacles for average consumers when buying an electric vehicle (EV) is the difficulty associated with charging these vehicles. Some challenges include limited charging stations, slow charging speeds, non-operational charging stations, cable compatibility issues, the need for multiple apps…the list goes on and on. To tackle this problem, Linux Foundation Energy (LF Energy) is bringing together industry players.

In this episode, Thana Paris, Director of Open Source at S44 Energy, joined me to talk about a new open-source project called CitrineOS. The project, created by S44 Energy, addresses some of the problems related to EV charging and is now part of the LF Energy family of open-source projects.

We have summarized the highlights of this discussion:

EV charging infrastructure reliability and compatibility challenges

• Paris discusses EV charging solutions and compatibility concerns.
• Paris notes that reliability of EV charging infrastructure is crucial for adoption.
• EV charging complexity can be more than gas, with DC fast chargers charging at speeds not possible with a normal outlet.

EV charging infrastructure and software development

• Opportunities for more insight into car and charging experience with EV charging.
• Paris talks about how Europe’s EV charging infrastructure faces challenges from multiple operators, leading to fragmentation and app proliferation.
• CitrineOS focuses on Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.64 to connect chargers to the cloud and mediate data exchange between chargers and software in the cloud.
• Paris also points out that open charging protocols are crucial for government-funded EV infrastructure to last beyond private industry lifespan.

Tesla’s charging network dominance and industry standards

• Tesla dominates the US EV charging market with the best user experience, but competitors are closing in.
• Tesla adopted an existing open source standard for charging, making their plugs compatible with the majority of the industry.
• Paris highlights the fact that Tesla’s charging network may seem unreliable if they don’t adopt industry standards.

Standardizing EV charging protocols for compatibility and interoperability

• Chargers should work reliably, with max power output, and issues surfaced immediately.
• Paris notes that CitrineOS aims to create an open source platform for OCPP 2.0.1 protocol, making standard maintenance and operation easier.
• OEMs like Ford and Mercedes-Benz are investing in charging infrastructure, seeking compatibility with open-source software.
• OCPP allows control of chargers, benefiting both OEMs and charging network operators.
• Paris also points out that CitrineOS is improving roaming protocols for EV charging, enabling chargers to be accessible to multiple networks.
• Paris adds that OpenADR protocol could help utilities interface with charging networks, prevent overloading, and add stability to grids.

Guest: Thana Paris (LinkedIn)
Organizations: S44 Energy | LF Energy (Twitter)
Show: State of Energy