EV Charging Terminology

Contactless payment allows users to pay for charging using a bank card, phone or compatible contactless payment method. It is normally assessed alongside measurement accuracy, payment records, tariffs, transaction data and legal metrology requirements.

Eichrecht is German calibration and measurement law affecting how EV charging energy measurements, billing records and customer-facing transaction data are verified. It is mainly relevant to European market compliance rather than UK-only installations.

Energy measurement records the amount of electrical energy delivered, consumed or exported, usually in kilowatt-hours. It is normally assessed alongside measurement accuracy, payment records, tariffs, transaction data and legal metrology requirements.

Meter values are recorded readings from a charger or meter, such as energy delivered, power, voltage, current or session readings. It is normally considered alongside charge point management systems, OCPP support, firmware updates, reporting and remote diagnostics.

The Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) is the EU framework for placing regulated measuring instruments on the market, including active electrical energy meters used for trade. In EV charging it is relevant to EU market billing, kWh measurement and legal metrology requirements.

The Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 (MIR) are the UK regulations covering legally controlled measuring instruments, including active electrical energy meters used for trade. In EV charging they are relevant where measured kWh values are used to calculate charges, payments or rewards.

Open Charge Point Interface is a roaming and data exchange protocol used between e-mobility service providers and charge point operators. It is normally assessed alongside interoperability, supported protocol versions, firmware support and backend compatibility.

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 are UK regulations for public EV charge points covering contactless payment, payment roaming, price transparency, open data, helplines and rapid charge point reliability. They apply to relevant public charging provision across the UK.