The companies are in agreement with a common charging technology for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States. The new method will provide special convenience by enabling car owners to charge their EVs using AC or DC from a single inlet. The charging system will allow for both alternating current and faster direct current charging on the same port. Another feature of the new system is that the charge can be done in faster time; a battery charge will take only 15 to 20 minutes. 

 

Audi, General Motors, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Porsche, and Volkswagen are the automakers who support the technology, which will be showcased next week at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) in Los Angeles, from May 6 to May 9.

The first vehicles to use the system are expected next year. Vehicles are already in development that will be capable of using the new system. The charging solution is titled "DC Fast Charging with a Combined Charging System” or Combined Charging System, for short. An EVS statement says this is a step forward in reducing complexity with its combined AC and DC charging. “One vehicle inlet, one control logic, one communication path, and one electric architecture.” The LA event will show vehicles and charge pumps for the Combined Charging System.