Scienlab Charging Discovery System

Scienlab Charging Discovery System

Testing charging function and interoperability

Both development and spread of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EV, PHEV) depend on the expansion and interference-free utilization of the charging infrastructure (electric vehicle supply equipment, EVSE). Due to the relatively recent standards and the resulting lack of experience in the field, faults in the interaction of EV and EVSE can be observed frequently.

Modular Test Environment for Charging Technology

From mobile use to application in the laboratory

The Solution

Keysight Technologies, Inc. offers a modular test environment for EV and EVSE charging systems from mobile use to comprehensive application in the laboratory. The CDS emulates as a central element the charging communication of EV or EVSE. At the same time, the electrical parameters are measured and checked for compliance with standards. The CDS also assumes synchronized triggering of additional power sources and sinks. All components are developed and manufactured by Keysight. Customer-specific requirements or modifications required by the standards can therefore be realized at short notice.

Possible areas of application are:

• Function tests of EV and EVSE charging interfaces with verification for compliance with the norm conformity 
• Testing of interoperability 
• Verification of charging components for international markets through emulation of international charging communication standards and low-voltage grids 
• Targeted and reproducible testing of EV and EVSE fault response 
• Automated endurance testing for quality assurance purposes, including multi-channel testing
  

The following use cases are supported by the CDS:

• EVSE test: For the testing of charging stations, wall boxes and in-cable control box (ICCB) charging cables, the CDS is expanded with a high-voltage load and a grid emulation. This allows testing independently of an EV. 
• EV test: The CDS can represent a freely-programmable AC or DC charging station by connecting it to a power source. 
• Man-in-the-middle: Communication and power flow between EV and EVSE can be analyzed. Load and signal lines are connected by the CDS and recorded using measurement equipment.

The Charging Discovery System is designed to be configured in modular arrangements matching the respective application. Its main component is the real-time computer for autonomous execution of test sequences. The test sequence itself is defined and parameterized using the Charging Discover PC software or alternatively controlled directly from a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) system. The CDS provides two manipulable PWM communication interfaces and records, stores, analyzes and evaluates the pilot signals (control pilot/CP, proximity pilot/PP). It also provides digital I/O signals for control and synchronization of external components.

If necessary, this basic configuration can be expanded by additional communication modules for the use of DC charging standards. The following modules can be integrated:

• An HV module for safe contacting of EVSE DUTs 
• An additional oscilloscope for the high-frequency analysis and optical evaluation of signals 
• An RC emulation for the testing of safeguarding equipment 
• Various passive and active sources and sinks for the flexible emulation of the respective high-voltage opposite side