The IEC 61851 series of standards has long served as the technical backbone for development of both AC and DC charging equipment for electric vehicles (EVs). Covering key charging interfaces like CCS, GB/T, and CHAdeMO, IEC 61851 is the most widely adopted standard for product compliance and market access testing.
Whether for CE marking in the European Union, electrical certification in emerging Asian markets, or other regions aligned with IEC standards, EV charging equipment is generally required to comply with the conditions and specifications stipulated in the IEC 61851 series. Within this framework, IEC 61851-23 applies to DC electric vehicle supply equipment (DC EVSE), outlining test methods for functional requirements, control communications, and electrical safety.
IEC 61851-23 was updated in 2023 with the release of Edition 2.0 (IEC 61851-23:2023), superseding Edition 1.0 published in 2014 (IEC 61851-23:2014). The update includes numerous refinements and technical revisions. Notably, for electrical safety testing of CCS DC chargers, Edition 2.0 provides clearer definitions for test items, execution procedures, and simulated circuit requirements (see table below).
Many of these tests rely on modifying charging conditions to meet specific test requirements, placing greater demands on test system versatility and overall design.
The European standard EN 61851-23:2014, derived from IEC 61851-23:2014, is listed as a Harmonised Standard under the EU Low Voltage Directive (LVD, 2014/35/EU). It remains one of the most commonly used references for demonstrating DC charger safety compliance for CE marking. The standardization body CENELEC is currently working to adopt IEC 61851-23:2023 as a European standard, which is expected to officially replace EN 61851-23:2014 as the applicable harmonized standard.
| IEC 61851-23 | Edition 2 | Edition 1 |
| Publication year | 2023 | 2014 |
| Standard test items | CC.7.5 | X |
| Standard test procedures | CC.7.5 | X |
| Standard test points | CC.7.5 | X |
| Standard test circuits | Figure 131 / Figure CC.14 | X |
| Test operating conditions | Modified charging process | Normal charging |
| Charging protocol | DIN 70121 / ISO 15118-2 | |
| Charging connector | CCS1 / CCS2 | |
Chroma’s EVSE Automated Test System (ATS) 8000 is built around in-house developed components, including the software platform, power sources and electronic loads, communication control unit, and other key modules. This supports test requirements for DIN 70122, ISO 15118-4, and ISO 15118-5 communication conformance as well as electrical parameter verification. Thanks to its modular architecture and high degree of programmability, the 8000 ATS can meet IEC 61851-23:2023 electrical performance requirements simply by adding Chroma’s specially developed EVSE HV Tester (circuit simulator) and an oscilloscope to the existing setup. This allows a single system to support customers across a full range of product testing needs.
Backed by 40 years of expertise in precision test and measurement, Chroma continues to deliver a broad portfolio of EVSE testing solutions based on its proprietary 8000 platform, helping customers worldwide tackle the most demanding test challenges.