Setting the EV standard
The frustratingly fragmented state of the EV industry is one of the biggest obstacles to widespread EV adoption. The concept of “standards” and interoperability may seem boring, but they are what makes the world seamlessly go around. Just imagine if we did not have any protocols for the internet, bluetooth or payments.
The fact that charging sessions often require signing up for yet another app, navigating payment details and authorizing an account is just one of the examples in the EV sector. But there is good news on that front. In the US, there is now a partnership between nonprofit SAE’s Industries Technology Consortia and a consortium of automakers and EV charging operators, along with the Biden administration’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. They just announced a new security framework for “universal Plug and Charge” that will be officially rolled out early 2025.
There are, however, still some lesser-known hurdles to be taken, when it comes to lack of standards and interoperability:
BATTERY STANDARDS
The lack of standards for EV batteries is one of the most underestimated challenges in the industry. Volvo, Polestar and BMW, for example, all have different types of batteries with different ranges. That may not seem a problem at first sight, but it is if we want to efficiently recycle and repurpose them. The latter is quite essential seeing that we’re looking at a huge number of discarded batteries in the coming years.
For instance, think of how much faster and better we could disassemble and recycle batteries that have a standardized format. Or how easier it would be to give them a second life in a power factory, if they all have the same design specifications and connection interfaces. That’s why you need protocols.
SOFTWARE STANDARDS
Data ecosystems are one of the best ways of innovating and finding solutions to some of humanity’s biggest challenges. And yet, there is no real industry standard for EV software and even less willingness to collaborate on the matter. But just think about how much the learning curve, intelligence and safety of self-driving EVs would advance if all their software was open and interoperable? I truly believe that if we want to speed up the energy transition towards a more sustainable automotive world, open source software and opening up patents should play a major role.
If we want the EV industry to flourish by taking away some pretty big frictions and, as a result, speed up the energy transition, we will have to enhance our focus on robust standards and interoperability across charging, battery design, and software.
There are, however, still some lesser-known hurdles to be taken, when it comes to lack of standards and interoperability:
BATTERY STANDARDS
The lack of standards for EV batteries is one of the most underestimated challenges in the industry. Volvo, Polestar and BMW, for example, all have different types of batteries with different ranges. That may not seem a problem at first sight, but it is if we want to efficiently recycle and repurpose them. The latter is quite essential seeing that we’re looking at a huge number of discarded batteries in the coming years.
For instance, think of how much faster and better we could disassemble and recycle batteries that have a standardized format. Or how easier it would be to give them a second life in a power factory, if they all have the same design specifications and connection interfaces. That’s why you need protocols.
SOFTWARE STANDARDS
Data ecosystems are one of the best ways of innovating and finding solutions to some of humanity’s biggest challenges. And yet, there is no real industry standard for EV software and even less willingness to collaborate on the matter. But just think about how much the learning curve, intelligence and safety of self-driving EVs would advance if all their software was open and interoperable? I truly believe that if we want to speed up the energy transition towards a more sustainable automotive world, open source software and opening up patents should play a major role.
If we want the EV industry to flourish by taking away some pretty big frictions and, as a result, speed up the energy transition, we will have to enhance our focus on robust standards and interoperability across charging, battery design, and software.
