CODICO has invested in developing deep competence in PLC communications for vehicle charging and home automation since 2010. Based on this competence, CODCIO decided to develop in-house PLC modules to offer customers a smoother technology integration and a fast time to market. These modules have been codeveloped with our partner 8devices and the first modules have recently been launched to market with focus on vehicle charging. Before checking out these modules, let’s have a look at the underlying standards and technology. Development of charging standards Looking back a few years there were no common initiative to develop a charging standard. This resulted in that several proprietary charging solutions were developed. For example, in Japan the CHAdeMO charging system was developed, in the US Tesla developed their Supercharger and in China the GB/T charging system was developed. The first step towards developing a charging standard was taken by the German car manufacturers and they helped to develop the ISO/IEC 15118 standard. However, due to the fact that it took long time to develop this standard it was decided to freeze the standard specification at a certain level and to issue it as German Industrial Norm DIN 70121. America later followed this example and derived the American standard SAE J2847/2 out of DIN 70121. Nowadays the international charging standard ISO/IEC 15118 and the associated test requirements have been developed to such an extent that almost all market participants have decided to use and apply it. In the ISO/IEC 15118 standard it has been specified that the communication between the electro vehicle and the charging station shall be based on HomePlug Green Phy Powerline communication technology. What is HomePlug Green Phy? HomePlug is the family name for various power line communications specifications under the HomePlug designation. Each version has unique performance capabilities and coexistence or compatibility with other HomePlug specifications. Homeplug AV is perhaps the most commonly known version so far. HomePlugAV (AV = Audio Video) have been used since 2005 to distribute audio and video around a house or flat using the existing copper or coaxial network. HomePlug Green PHY (HPGP) is a subset of the HomePlug AV specification and is intended for use in applications where communication reliability and robustness are required. HPGP delivers a line data rate of 9.8Mbit/s and this technology has successfully been adopted in many applications such as car charging, smart grid and metering. With the strategic acquisition of Intellon Corporation in 2009, Qualcomm added PLC to their portfolio. Since then Qualcomm has further developed and adapted the PLC technology to market demands and are now the incumbent supplier of HPGP chips such as QCA7005. CODICO HomePlug GreenPhy solutions As the market for electrical vehicles is accelerating, the demand for HomePlug Green Phy modules with enhanced features and improved performance is increasing. In particular, customers are asking for higher operating temperature ranges and improved quality control during the manufacturing process. CODICO and its partner 8devices have developed a family of modules matching these new requirements and is now gradually bringing them to market. All modules are suitable for applications according to DIN 70121/ISO 15118-3/SAE J2847/2 standards. RED BEET The first module launched to market is the RED beet. This module is close to the Qualcomm QCA7005 reference implementation, including the core components around the QCA7005. The QCA7005 was specifically used here because, unlike the QCA7000, it is possible to visually inspect its solder joints from the outside during production and it allows a temperature range of up to 110°C, thus enabling the module to be used in a charging stations, wall boxes or onboard chargers at ambient temperatures of up to +85°C. YELLOW BEET For the YELLOW beet module, the PLC design implementation has been extended to include the line coupling, overvoltage protection and a phase zero crossing detection feature required for the charging station side. These new modules are further enhanced by the use of a temperature-stabilized oscillator, which is also a prerequisite for use in ambient temperature environments up to +85°C where the module temperature goes much beyond. Both the RED beet and the YELLOW beet modules are available in 3 SKU’s each: • For the charging station side • For the vehicle side • For longer distances applications (smart home, metering) WHITE BEET (coming soon) CODICO clearly sees the trend in the EVSE market to add "Plug & Charge" functionality to next generations charging stations. To meet this trend CODICO developed the WHITE beet module. This module reuses the YELLOW beet PLC design and also adds an MCU, memory and multiple power supplies. Particular focus has been put to the power supply designs to reduce the noise floor level as much as possible and with that increase the SNR for communication in noisy environments. The modules are further enhanced with IEC 61851-1 / SAE J1772 PWM generation and detection on the EVSE side modules and switching resistors for the PEV side. For the EVSE side the +/- 12V DC/DC power supplies for the PWM generation have been included in the module. WHITE beet modules will enable customers to run the full DIN 70121/ISO 15118/SAE J2847/2 software stack on the MCU and will come in different software options. Customers can also add and run their EVSE application software on the module and with that eliminate and replace their existing Linux based controller. For all beet modules there are different Evaluation and Development boards available. Visit the CODICO samples shop to check them out. https://www.codico.com/en/products/powerline-communication/plc-homeplug-green-phy#samples Do you have any further questions? Don’t hesitate to contact CODICO, www.codico.com! Magnus Gustavsson RSM & MD, Nordics Broadband – A Codico Company For further questions: Magnus Gustavsson RSM & MD, Nordics Broadband – A CODICO Company About CODICO CODICO stands for design-in-distribution of high-quality electronic components. Its wide range of products includes active and passive components and interconnect systems. The company operates from its Austrian headquarters in Perchtoldsdorf, south of Vienna as an independent, privately-owned enterprise and maintains several sales offices in Germany, Denmark, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and the UK, also cooperating with partner companies in Central and Eastern Europe. Backed by a high level of technical expertise, CODICO places a key focus on design-in services. CODICO's distinguishing feature consists in the technical support it provides from the development phase to the final product, and its commitment to selling exclusively high-quality products. www.codico.com