DC Fast Charging PLC Communications: CCS, MCS & Pantograph-Ready for FlexCase
Audesse can supply the PLC communication layer that lets FlexCase negotiate DC fast charging — the same foundation that extends to CCS, MCS, and pantograph implementations at the vehicle level.
Key Software & Communication Features
- PLC Communication Layer: Handles the physical and data-link layer for DC fast-charging negotiation over the vehicle’s charge port, built on the industry-standard HomePlug Green PHY approach used across CCS-based charging.
- Signal Level Attenuation Characterization (SLAC): Confirms the vehicle is pairing with the charger it’s physically plugged into — important in multi-vehicle depots and charging bays where cross-talk between adjacent chargers has to be ruled out.
- Unified AC/DC Negotiation: A single stack manages both AC pilot signaling and PLC-based DC fast charging, rather than separate AC and DC code paths.
- Backward Compatibility: Interoperates with DIN 70121 and ISO 15118-2 chargers already deployed in the field, in addition to ISO 15118-20 infrastructure.
- Secure Session Negotiation: TLS-secured sessions backed by X.509 PKI certificate infrastructure, with efficient compressed XML messaging to keep negotiation fast on embedded hardware.
- Low-Footprint Embedded Design: Engineered to run natively on FlexCase’s existing MCU alongside vehicle control logic, without dedicated charging-communication hardware.
- Session Diagnostics: Real-time monitoring of pilot and PLC link status, with fault detection and reporting on negotiated charge parameters.
Standards & Compliance
- ISO 15118-20 Compliant: Supports the current-generation combined AC/DC communication standard, including Plug & Charge.
- Connector Standards: CCS1 and CCS2 supported out of the box; NACS and other regional connectors available on request.
- Authentication: Plug & Charge (PKI/X.509 certificate-based automatic vehicle authentication) and External Identification Means (EIM — RFID, app, or card) for chargers without Plug & Charge support.
Hardware Compatibility: FlexCase E & G
Built on the standard Audesse FlexCase bootloader and firmware, the DC fast charging PLC module runs natively on Audesse’s ruggedized hardware platforms.
FlexCase G: PLC communications are standard, ready for CCS DC fast charging out of the box, with the expansion headroom described below.
FlexCase E: PLC communications are available as a build option at a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of 50 units.
FlexCase G Expansion Options
FlexCase G’s expansion I/O opens a growth path beyond single-gun DC fast charging, all running on the same PLC communication foundation:
- Dual PLC chargegun (parallel CCS1 inlets) for current levels beyond a single gun
- Megawatt Charging System (MCS) support for heavy-duty trucks and buses
- Pantograph (Automatic Connection Device) charging for transit and depot opportunity charging
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Communication Standard | ISO 15118-20 (backward compatible with ISO 15118-2 / DIN 70121) |
| Authentication | Plug & Charge (PKI/X.509) or External Identification Means (EIM) |
| Connector Support | CCS1, CCS2 (NACS and others on request) |
| PLC Modem | QCA7006AQ |
| Pilot Signals | CP/PP handled via existing FlexCase AC charging I/O |
| Expansion Options | Dual-gun parallel CCS1, MCS, Pantograph (ACD) |
Reduce Your Development Time
Accelerate your path to production with Audesse’s PLC communications module for DC fast charging. Running directly on FlexCase E or G, it gives OEMs and fleet integrators a proven communication foundation for AC-through-DC charging control — one stack that scales from CCS today to dual-gun, MCS, and pantograph configurations as your program grows.