The Wild West days are all but over for the electric vehicle (EV) industry. And in many ways, that’s a great thing. As more countries begin transitioning to EVs, new standards, including EV charging regulations, are providing some much-needed guidance for manufacturers, network operators, and solutions providers. This list covers some of the current EV charger requirements for the US and Canada.
OCPP and OCPI are increasingly being adopted as worldwide standards that can make the EV charging experience easier for drivers and EV charger installation easier for solutions providers and network operators.
Canada’s EV charging stations are now regulated under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, which provisions for safety requirements and ensures that EV charging stations dispense the stated amount of kilowatts of electricity to a charging vehicle.
US EV charging standards vary from state to state and often have additional layers depending on the county or city you’re in. This permit template from the Alternative Fuels Data Center should give you an idea of the typical permitting requirements you can expect. California has some of the most stringent and comprehensive installation requirements in the US along with the largest concentration of EVs in the US. If you’re planning to install or operate chargers in California, this permitting guidebook is a good place to start.
One important thing all US EV charging businesses should keep in mind is accessibility. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is part of EV charging requirements in the US. The AFDC has the latest guidelines on installing wheelchair-accessible parking spaces and charging units, as well as considerations for those with hearing disabilities.
A similar scenario applies to Canadian EV charging stations. Much like in the US, permitting and installation requirements vary by province and city. You’ll need to consult local authorities before proceeding with installation. The Accessible Canada Act applies to EV charging stations.
Additional considerations need to be made for the charger’s location. Installing an EV charger at an existing business will require different permits than one being installed in the parking lot of a local park. You’ll need to consider city permits and local as well as state environmental regulations. Whether you’re in the US or Canada, you’ll want to consult with an attorney and talk to local government representatives before venturing into the wondrous world of permitting requirements.
EV charging station management platforms have to abide by the same rules and standards as other cloud-native applications. That includes earning compliance certifications for SOC 2 (information security) and PCI DSS (credit card information security) standards, for both US and Canadian companies.
EV charging software also needs to be mindful of international online regulations like GDPR, as well as regional regulations, the CCPA in California being notable because of the strong EV industry presence in the region.
EVs are booming, and new electric vehicle charging requirements are likely being developed even as you’re reading this article. As the industry moves toward wider adoption and subsequent standardization, EV charging businesses will likely face the same if not greater regulatory requirements than current-day gas stations. You can always find information about EV charging station rebates for the US and Canada on the ChargeLab website and read up on the latest industry trends on our blog.
ChargeLab helps EV charging businesses scale operations with a hardware-agnostic, OCPP-compliant charging station management platform. With automated maintenance alerts, 24/7 driver support, and a user-friendly dashboard, we’re on a mission to make EV charging a better experience for everyone. Send us a quick note if you’d like to see our platform in action.