Standards Development

Scope

This document describes the categories of technical specifications to be considered for ensuring interoperability and compatibility of Swappable battery systems, both at vehicles level and charging station level.

It includes alignment with the AFI-Regulation (EU 2023/1084). This document will focus on the following aspects that are crucial towards interoperability and compatibility:

- electrical specifications

- mechanical specifications

- connector specifications

- BMS and communication protocols

- safety and Security (including cybersecurity)

The document will address:

- applications with the following numbers and configuration of battery packs:

o maximum 2 in series (2S1P)

o maximum 1 in series –4 in parallel (1S4P)

- specifications at battery pack level

- specifications at battery

-vehicle interface

- specification at battery

-charging station interface

- specification at charging station

Purpose

For Electrical L-cat vehicles, the battery swapping operated via compatible and interoperable batteries is the best solution to the short range and long charging time, as it allows a fast – less than 1 minutes – change of battery to a full one, and using an infrastructure that can definitely contribute to checking the health status of the battery and “decide” if still valid for emobility purposes or to second life application, or even to end of life. It offers a way to optimize the life and safety of each battery pack.

It reduces the anxiety of riders and improves the re-use / recycling opportunities enhancing circular economy.

One of the challenges faced is about interoperability and compatibility, where the EU market is aiming at unique solutions that could fit with different brands and models, including different L-cat related applications/categories of vehicles.

To meet this objective, it is proposed to develop technical and safety requirements, both mechanical and electrical, of electrically propelled mopeds and motorcycles with battery swapping system, including swappable battery system, battery swapping connector, battery fixing mechanism and battery compartment, BMS and communication requirements, towards interoperability and compatibility purposes.

AFI-R and EC SR (M-581) From the AFI-R regulation (EU) 2023/1804 and the related Standardization Request M-581, ESOs are asked to develop “European standard containing technical specifications with a unified solution for battery swapping for L category vehicles », and this, by end of 2025.

2. Interoperability and Compatibility

Bearing in mind the following technical definitions:

1. Compatibility (of battery swapping system): capability of battery swapping system to meet the requirements of battery swap stations and vehicles to transfer energy and exchange data without appreciable modifications and any undesirable consequences of unpredictable shortage of performance

2. Interoperability (of battery swapping system): capability to transfer power and/or data among various battery swapping system, vehicles and battery swap stations, without requiring modifications, special interfaces or conversion hardware In operation, for users, this means:

• Any battery which complies with the “Swappable Battery System Standard” can be used in any vehicle which complies/accept with the Swappable Battery System Standard;

• Any battery which can be charged within any charging station (independently by the economical energetic operator) or with any charging device which complies with the Swappable Battery System Standard;

• Any battery which complies with the Swappable Battery System Standard can be used in parallel or serial connection within a “vehicle” with any or other battery/batteries which comply with the Swappable Battery System Standard (e.g., with limitations/ranges as expected to be specified in the Swappable Battery System Standard and i.e., max. number of batteries connected in serial configuration, etc…);

• Any battery which can be recharged “simultaneously” with any other battery/batteries which comply with the Swappable Battery System Standard, in multi-battery (we expect double) charging device which comply with the Swappable Battery System Standard;