What is CTEP? Everything you need to know about California EV Charger Regulations

The California Type Evaluation Program is bringing Standardization and Accountability to the EV Industry.

Standards in the EV industry has long been closer to best practices than hard rules. Now, the California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP) is ushering in compliance requirements to make sure commercial EV chargers are manufactured for safe and fair use.

That means hardware distributors installing or selling EV chargers in California will need to certify their devices to ensure they meet safety standards. But what is CTEP, and what does it entail for your business? We’ve got the details.

What is the California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP)?

The CTEP is a certification program from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS). It was created to ensure that weighing and measuring devices are designed for their intended use, operate correctly, and carry the required markings. The certification process is aimed at preventing fraud and the sale of faulty devices that may be unsafe or ineffective. In January 2020, the CTEP added commercial EV chargers manufactured or installed in California to the compliance roster.

What does the CTEP Certification have to do with EV Chargers?

The link between the California Department of Food and Agriculture and EV chargers may not be an obvious one. The answer lies in the “measuring” language in CTEP regulations. EV chargers are considered measuring devices under the program because they measure out and transfer electrical energy to EVs. In short, the state of California wants to make sure customers who charge their EVs are getting what they pay for. EV charger manufacturers and operators will need to make sure all their chargers are providing EV drivers with uniform experience (i.e., displaying the correct kWh and accepting the same payment types). Using open, interoperable EV charging station management software can help you make the compliance process easier. 

CTEP Requirements and Timelines

All commercial EV chargers that collect a fee will need to obtain a certificate of approval (COA) through the CTEP. That means if you manufacture or install Level 2 and Level 3 chargers for public use in California, the CTEP requirements apply to you. Here are some timelines:

• As of January 1, 2021—all newly installed commercial AC chargers will need to comply with the CTEP on installation.
• As of January 1, 2023—all newly installed DC chargers will need to comply on installation.
• By January 1, 2031—all AC chargers installed before Jan. 1, 2021 become subject to CTEP.
• By January 1, 2033—all DC chargers installed before Jan 1, 2023 become subject to CTEP.

The CTEP requirements are adopted from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44. Specifically, section 3.40 concerns electric vehicle fueling systems. Here are some highlights:

• Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) must display the price per charge and indicate charge start and stop times. If using multi-tiered pricing, all tier prices must be visible prior to beginning a charging service.
• EVSE needs to display and record electrical output and price in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and decimal subdivisions.
• EVSE should display prices and calculate running costs throughout a charging session, including during a loss of internet connectivity.
• The reset mechanism for the indicating element can’t be active during a transaction. In other words, the EVSE can’t reset to zero when a customer is in the middle of a charge.
• EVSE should have a clear and conspicuous label indicating the maximum power output.
• EVSE must be field-tested for accuracy by comparing the total energy delivered in a transaction and the total cost charged as displayed/reported by the EVSE.
• Drivers must receive detailed receipts that itemize the charging session's cost and provide additional information.

You may also want to take a look at the FAQs section on the DMS website before diving into a gap analysis of your EV charger hardware. Once you’ve taken any remediation steps, you can apply for a Certificate of Approval (COA).