New SAE International Standard Defines Electric-Vehicle Charging Coupler

WARRENDALE, Pa., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SAE International has released a standard that provides a standard interface between plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, and electrical charging systems.

Standard J1772(TM), "SAE Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler," spells out the general physical, electrical and performance requirements for the coupler, which consists of a connector and vehicle inlet.  The purpose of the standard is to define a common electric-vehicle charging network, thereby reducing costs and increasing convenience for owners of electric vehicles.

"SAE International has long been at the forefront of standards development for the automotive industry. This important new standard continues that tradition," David L. Schutt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of SAE International said. "I applaud the work of the industry leaders from around the world who developed this standard, helping to ensure that today's and tomorrow's vehicles are ready to meet the needs of the consumer and the marketplace, and helping to positively shape the future of transportation."

SAE International is a leading standards organization identified in the NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards for Interoperability Standards to Support Plug-In Electric Vehicles and as collaborators for Energy Storage Interconnection guidelines.

Gery Kissel is Chair of the SAE Hybrid Task Force. He explained that consistency and reliability are key goals of the new standard. "By standardizing, you're reducing costs and allowing everyone to use the same connector.  All of the charging equipment you would pull up to in public would have identical connectors, so any vehicle could use one.  It will be a consistent, reliable interface," Kissel said.

In the process of SAE J1772(TM) development, a production tooled coupler has passed testing by Underwriters Laboratories for safety and durability.

SAE J1772(TM) standard was developed by the SAE Hybrid J1772 Task Force in cooperation with major automotive OEMs and suppliers, charging equipment manufacturers, national labs, utility companies, universities and standards organizations from North America, Europe and Asia.

The document is published and can be purchased at http://www.sae.org/technical/standards/J1772_201001 .

SAE International is a global association of more than 121,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion(R) and the Collegiate Design Series.

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CONTACT: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, +1-724-772-8522 or [email protected]

SOURCE SAE International