Design

Arrow's reference design for EV charger development

26th June 2024
Caitlin Gittins
0

Arrow Electronics has introduced a data-communication reference design tailored for electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, incorporating advanced software protocols and a HomePlug Green PHY hardware module. 

This reference design is crafted to hasten the market entry for EV supply equipment (EVSE) that adheres to contemporary industry norms.

The software, developed at Arrow’s Engineering Solutions Centre in Gdansk, includes protocol stacks for ISO 15118 Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) communication and features sample application code, as well as support for Open Charge-Point Protocol (OCCP) and Control Pilot interfaces as outlined in IEC 61851 and SAE J1772. 

“V2G is required for fast DC chargers and quickly becoming the preferred communication protocol for AC charging. It increases charger functionality with future-proof capabilities, including wireless charging, bi-directional power transfer and plug-and-charge feature,” said Vitali Damasevich, Director of Engineering for Eastern Europe and Arrow’s engineering solutions centre EMEA. “Our reference design enables EV chargers producers to quickly adopt the new standard, relieving much of the software development needed by including the ISO 15118 protocol stack, and also providing a HomePlug Green PHY module to assist hardware design and integration.”

The hardware component of the reference design includes the Lumissil CG5317 HomePlug Green PHY low-power communications transceiver. This integrated circuit complies with HomePlug standards and is AEC-Q100 Grade 2 certified, functioning within a temperature range of -40°C to 105°C.

Arrow's GreenPHY reference design board connects seamlessly with various evaluation boards for testing and development purposes. Arrow's engineering team is also on hand to assist customers in integrating the design with their chosen MPU or MCU platform as they finalise the design for production. Furthermore, turnkey conformance tests are available to ensure correct operation when interfacing with various popular EV models, thus saving considerable time and development costs in obtaining the necessary product-level approvals.

This comprehensive solution, combining sophisticated software stacks and sample code, alongside robust engineering support and vehicle-specific tests, provides a streamlined and effective path to market entry. Additionally, Arrow’s Engineering Solutions Centre continues to advance the development of the ISO 15118 stack as specifications evolve.

The software stack has also been implemented by Arrow’s engineering services provider eInfochips in their DC charger design, which is designed for small to medium-sized commercial and public EV charging infrastructures. Catering to both U.S. and EU markets and complying with CE, FCC, and UL standards, the DCFC offers remote management capabilities for drivers and charge point service providers via the eInfochips EVWER platform and mobile app.

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