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Charge an Electric Vehicle

You can use the electric vehicle (EV) charging reference application to model charging of an EV battery, using either an NACS coupler (as introduced by Tesla®) or an SAE J1772/CCS coupler. The battery charging process includes digital communications between the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) unit. The application provides four charging options, each utilizing a different combination of coupler and basic charging and high-level communication protocols, and incorporates a Datasheet Battery block without thermal management.

Use the EV charging reference application for control and diagnostic algorithm design and to test digital communication protocols. To create and open a working copy of the reference application project, use this command.

By default, the app opens an EvChargingNACS model. This model simulates the NACS (North American Charging Standard), in the DC charging use case. To execute another option, click on the desired project under the Project Shortcuts tab on the MATLAB® pane.

Project ShortcutBasic Charging ProtocolHigh-Level Communication ProtocolCoupler
EvChargingNACSIEC 61851DIN SPEC 70121NACS
EvChargingACSAE J1772n/aSAE J1772/CCS
EvChargingCCSIEC 61851ISO 15118SAE J1772/CCS
EvChargingDCSAE J1772DIN SPEC 70121SAE J1772/CCS

This table shows the NACS coupler (connector side) used in the first option, and describes the pins used for communication and charging.

Pin LabelNameDescription

NACS Coupler

HV+

Power Terminal (+)

Positive power connection

NACS Coupler Diagram

HV-

Power Terminal (-)

Negative power connection

PE

Ground (Protective Earth)

Common ground

CP

Control Pilot

Detects contact between connector and plug and carries the two way communication on a 1 kHz PWM signal

PP

Proximity Pilot

Detects proximity of connector to plug, even if not fully inserted, enabling warning of damage to connection hardware if vehicle or EVSE moves

The other three options use the SAE J1772/CCS Combo Coupler, which is the combined charging system (CCS) version of the SAE J1772 coupler. This table shows the coupler (connector side) and describes the pins used for communication and charging.

Pin LabelNameDescription

J1772/CCS Combo Coupler

L1

Line (AC1)

Single-phase AC power

SAE J1772/CCS Combo Coupler Diagram

N

Neutral (AC2)

Neutral single-phase AC power

PE

Ground (Protective Earth)

Common ground

CP

Control Pilot

Detects contact between connector and plug and carries the two way communication on a 1 kHz PWM signal

CS

Proximity Detection/Proximity Contact/Connection Signal

Detects proximity of connector to plug, even if not fully inserted, enabling warning of damage to connection hardware if vehicle or EVSE moves

DC+

DC Power Terminal (+)

Positive DC power connection

DC-

DC Power Terminal (-)

Negative DC power connection

To start charging, click Run. You can choose one of two views of the process. This first view shows the digital communications between the EV and the EVSE.

EV Charging diagram shows an electric vehicle connected to an EVSE.

The app defaults to the second view, called the dashboard. This view uses less animation than the first, so the app runs faster with the dashboard displayed. The dashboard shows the states of the charging coupler, the readiness of the EV and EVSE to charge, and the authentication and authorization to charge. Numerical displays show the rate and progress of the charge.

As you develop your model, you can replace the manual switches with timed or triggered ones and verify their actions.

The dashboard shows state of charge of the battery.

Here is a table of Charging_State values and their descriptions, for the IEC 61851 basic charging protocol.

System states detected by EV supply equipment (EVSE) per IEC 61851-1:2017

State DesignationEV StatusEVSE Status
A1Vehicle not connectedEVSE not ready
A2Vehicle not connectedEVSE ready
B1Vehicle connected & not ready to accept energyEVSE not ready to supply energy
B2Vehicle connected & not ready to accept energyEVSE ready to supply energy
C1Vehicle connected & ready to accept energy/EV does not require charging area ventilationEVSE not ready to supply energy
C2Vehicle connected & ready to accept energy/EV does not require charging area ventilationEVSE ready to supply energy
D1Vehicle connected & ready to accept energy/EV requires charging area ventilationEVSE not ready to supply energy
D2Vehicle connected & ready to accept energy/EV requires charging area ventilationEVSE ready to supply energy
EEVSE disconnected from vehicle / EVSE disconnected from utility, EVSE loss of utility power or control pilot short to control pilot reference
FOther EVSE problem

Here is a table of Charging_State values and their descriptions, for the SAE J1772 basic charging protocol.

System states detected by EV supply equipment (EVSE) per SAE J1772:2017

State DesignationDescription
AVehicle not connected
B1

Vehicle connected / not ready to accept energy

EVSE not ready to supply energy

B2

Vehicle connected / not ready to accept energy

EVSE capable to supply energy

C

Vehicle connected / ready to accept energy / indoor area charging ventilation not required

EVSE capable to supply energy

D

Vehicle connected / ready to accept energy / indoor area charging ventilation required

EVSE capable to supply energy

EEVSE disconnected from vehicle / EVSE disconnected from utility, EVSE loss of utility power or control pilot short to control pilot reference
FOther EVSE problem

Notes:

  • States D, D1 and D2 for basic charging are not implemented in the reference application.

  • High level communication (HLC) evaluates application layer messages, logic, and timing management for electric vehicle charging communication protocols. Physical layers and other OSI layers mentioned in the protocols are not implemented in the reference application.

Once charging is complete, you can display the results in the Simulation Data Inspector versus time. You can select results for battery current, battery state of charge, charging status, and others.

The simulation data inspector shows the quantities changing during the charging process.

You can also use the Sequence Viewer to see the communications between the EV and the EVSE.

The sequence viewer shows the communications occurring between the vehicle and the EVSE during the charging process.

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