If Canada wants mass adoption of EVs it needs a fast charging network and a uniform set of standards to govern it, says the CSA Group

This article is Sponsor Content presented by CSA GROUP

CSA Group has been engaged in activities supporting the development and implementation of EV charging technologies and their harmonization across North America since 2010.

As Canada aims for 100 per cent zero-emission new vehicle sales by 2035, we need to prepare our infrastructure for the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road. This is no small task.

To tackle the issue of insufficient charging infrastructure, the federal government has promised $680 million to build more stations across the country.

Collaboration with utilities is critical for advancing generation and transmission infrastructure capabilities to meet increased demand.

The role of standards in electrifying transportation

The challenges faced by the transportation sector, electrical utilities, and manufacturers can be partly addressed through codes and standards. These may address the quality, safety and performance of services, products and systems.

Moreover, standards encourage compatibility and interoperability, promote environmental protection and enhance trade.

When harmonized at the national, regional, or international level, codes and standards can help reduce the regulatory burden by aligning common requirements and ultimately reducing time-to-market and costs for manufacturers.

Fast-charging infrastructure is critical for mass EV adoption

The widespread adoption of battery EVs depends greatly on the availability of reliable DC fast charging infrastructure. This type of charging is necessary for long-distance travel and allows drivers to charge up to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.

This infrastructure delivers high power. Being used by the public, it is crucial to prioritize its safety.

The new standard, CSA C22.2 No. 346:22, DC charging equipment for electric vehicles, published in December 2022, addresses this challenge.

The standard, developed at the request of industry and manufacturers, provides safety requirements for the construction, performance, testing and marking of DC fast charging equipment in North America. It also addresses protection of users against injury.

Using the standard CSA C22.2 No. 346, manufacturers have clarity on the safety requirements for their products. Conformity assessment bodies can use the standard as a means to test and certify products for electrical safety compliance.

While CSA C22.2 No. 346 provides requirements for the development and safe operations of electric vehicle DC fast charging supply equipment in the Canadian context, the standard is also accepted in the U.S. and Mexico, helping ensure compatibility and interoperability of systems across North America.

Systemic approach to integrating battery electric vehicles

The CSA’s standardization approach helps to seamlessly integrate EVs into the electrical system.

Addressing techniques such as energy management, bi-directional power transfer, and energy storage will help overcome the challenges of increased energy demand and support the widescale adoption of EVs.

Our standards also support the adoption of EVs for various transportation modes, contributing to broader electrification and decarbonization of the transportation sector.

CSA Group Standards for Electric Vehicles

Standard		Description
CSA C22.1:21	Canadian Electrical Code, Part I	The fundamental Code for the safety of electrical installations includes requirements for EVs and their energy management system (EVEMS)
CSA C22.2 NO. 280:22	Electric vehicle supply equipment	A trinational product safety certification standard for the electric vehicle supply equipment providing AC power to an on-board EV charger
CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 281.1-12 (R2022)	Standard for safety for personnel protection systems for electric vehicle (EV) supply circuits: General requirements	A trinational product safety certification standard to help reduce the risk of electrical shock from the accessible parts of the electric vehicle supply equipment
CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 281.2-12 (R2022)	Standard for safety for personnel protection systems for electric vehicle (EV) supply circuits: Particular requirements for protection devices for use in charging systems	A trinational product safety certification standard for electrical protection devices
CSA-C22.2 No. 282-17 (R2022)	Plugs, receptacles, and couplers for electric vehicles	A trinational product safety certification standard for plugs, receptacles, and couplers of the electric vehicle supply equipment
CSA C22.2 No. 332:22	Electric vehicle cable	A trinational product safety certification standard to address the design, construction, and performance requirements for power, signal, and control cables used between the electric vehicle charging equipment or DC fast charging systems and EVs
CSA/ANSI C22.2 No. 340:23	Battery management systems	A binational product certification standard for the design, performance, and safety of the battery management systems installed in stationary applications
CSA SPE-343	Electric vehicle energy management systems	Guidance for the development of demand management strategies using energy management systems, bi-directional power transfer, and energy storage
CSA C22.2 No. 346:22	DC charging equipment for electric vehicles	A trinational product safety certification standard for the development and safe operation of DC fast charging systems
CSA-C22.2 No. 348 (in progress)	Electric vehicle power export equipment (EVPE)	A binational product safety certification standard (in progress) will address the safety requirements for equipment that facilitates the bidirectional power transfer from the EV
CSA C22.2 NO.61980-1:22	Electric vehicle wireless power transfer (WPT) systems — Part 1: General requirements	Adoption of the IEC standard with Canadian deviations to maintain consistency with the Canadian Electrical Code

Harmonizing these standards across North America further helps promote the adoption of electric vehicles, increase public confidence in EV and energy storage technologies, and, ultimately, contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

To learn more about CSA standards and research for electric vehicle charging and energy management, visit the CSA Group website.

The CSA Group excels in addressing emerging, complex issues and technologies. CSA Group is comprised of two organizations: Standards Development and Testing, Inspection, & Certification.