What is verification?
Validation that a charger and its firmware meet all the expectations of its customers, work seamlessly with ChargeLab CSMS, and that the manufacturer has provided ChargeLab with a copy of its configuration guide. Anyone can buy a verified charger with confidence that it will perform as promised.
Why get a charger and firmware verified?
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Validate your charger's reliability: ChargeLab offers the most robust testing plan in the EV charging industry. Through verification, the charger will operate at the highest level of reliability and performance.
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Inclusion in RFPs and deals: ChargeLab will recommend only verified hardware for RFPs and business deals, ensuring reliable products for our clients and new sales channels for manufacturers.
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Promotion on our website: Verified chargers will be prominently featured at the top of ChargeLab’s EV charger webpage, ensuring clients can easily find and select the most reliable and high-quality options.
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Eligibility for Rebate Programs: ChargeLab will register verified chargers for numerous rebate programs, if applicable, enhancing its value proposition. These programs include the NJ Electric Vehicle Tourism Program, Drive Green NJ - It Pays to Plug In, CALSTART Communities in Charge, CALeVIP Golden State Priority Project, BC Hydro, and many more!
- Access to features: Unverified chargers will not have access to advanced features like power management.
What do we test?
We run new chargers through integration tests to validate compatibility and core functionality across various criteria and power management capacity. Here is a list of the high-level test categories:
Core
- Start and stop charging
- RFID cards
- Local auto-start
- Offline charging
- Power loss recovery
- Configuration changes
- Get diagnostics
- Firmware updates
- Concurrent charging
Power Management
- Minimum amperage
- Zero amperage
- Amperage profile adherence
- Dynamic amperage adjustment
- Long-running charge
- Concurrent charging
What is provisional verification?
A new hardware and firmware combination has been granted verification based on historical hardware or firmware verification at the discretion of the ChargeLab Hardware Team. A provisionally verified charger has strong evidence that it will meet the site's and EVdriver's expectations. Provisional verification is temporary, and a charger will be recategorized into a verified or unverified status based on testing and real-world data.
What are applicable use cases for provisional verification?
- Unverified chargers using firmware from verified charger
- Minor firmware updates are needed for a previously verified charger and firmware. Examples include:
- Hotfixes
- Optimizations
- Minor improvements
What are NOT applicable use cases for provisional verification?
- New manufacturers to ChargeLab
- Firmware updates deployed on an unverified charger
- Major firmware updates being deployed on a verified charger
How does a manufacturer request provisional verification for a charger?
When a manufacturer requests the verification of a charger and firmware, the first step is assessing whether the charger should be granted provisional verification.
