No exceptions: CPOs in Germany must comply with the German Calibration Law
As more and more EVs hit the roads, accurate billing for EV charging services has become increasingly important. In Germany, this is enforced by the German calibration law known as “Eichrecht,” which sets guidelines for transparent billing and pricing comparisons across various EV charging providers. Compliance with Eichrecht is mandatory for CPOs and EMSPs operating in Germany, and other countries are expected to introduce similar regulations as EVs become more popular.
Our team of EV charging experts at AMPECO has created an ebook that provides insights into the German calibration law and how it affects your business as a charge point operator or e-mobility service provider. It also highlights how AMPECO – a fully compliant management platform, can help you launch and grow your EV charging business in Germany.
What is the German Calibration law, a.k.a Eichrecht?
The German Calibration Law, known as Eichrecht, primarily aims to protect consumers and ensure that billing for charging sessions is transparent and accurate. Under Eichrecht, all public EV charging stations must be equipped with a certified and calibrated electric meter to ensure accuracy and reliability. Charging stations must display prices clearly and provide customers with a receipt that shows the amount of electricity consumed, the price charged, and other relevant details. The electric meter measures the electricity consumed and determines the amount that the EV driver will be charged. All prices are based solely on KWh consumption, not on time-based or flat fees, to ensure clear and easy-to-understand prices for EV charging.
How does the German calibration law affect EV charging service providers?
To run an EV charging network in Germany, you must have Eichrecht-compliant hardware and software. All public and semi-public charging stations must meet Eichrecht regulations, which impact three critical areas: metering, pricing, and data security.
Metering
Eichrecht requires all public EV charging stations to have a certified and calibrated electric meter to ensure accuracy and reliability. Each charge point must have a visible kWh measurement meter registered and periodically calibrated. EV drivers can quickly confirm the kWh reading via display or actual kWh meter device and verify this on their e-mobility app or web interface, ensuring transparency in billing.
Pricing
Charging stations must provide clear pricing and receipts detailing the electricity consumed, the price charged, and other relevant info. EV charging tariffs can only be based on kWh consumption. Time-based fees and flat-rate session fees are not permitted. Eichrecht mandates transparent billing, listing any additional tariffs separately from the kWh billed on the invoice.
Data Security
Eichrecht mandates the use of a unique public key to ensure data integrity during EV charging sessions. Public key encryption ensures secure communication between the charging station, the EV, and the central management system, preventing unauthorized access to data. The public key can be a QR code, allowing drivers to check energy consumption, time, and cost. With secure signatures and encryption, charging stations can generate transparent invoices for the driver.
Want to understand how Eichrecht affects common EV charging use cases?
Gain valuable insights into Eichrecht regulations and their impact on your EV charging business in Germany. Learn how to comply with calibration and pricing laws with our comprehensive handbook.
Stay on the right side of the law with AMPECO
To ensure compliance with the German Calibration Law, our EV charging management platform incorporates the following features and functionalities, such as:
- Accurate data exchange and precise meter readings guarantee the integrity of the charging data.
- Advanced encryption and secure transmission mechanisms for optimal data protection.
- Data management and storage protocols ensure your meter data remains safe and secure.
- Transparent pricing information ensures your customers know what they’re paying for.
- Comprehensive billing and invoicing processes that generate detailed invoices for your customers.
AMPECO’s EV charging management platform enables the exchange of charge session data and provides drivers with accurate meter data, helping charge point operators in Germany meet their legal obligations.
Once an Eichrecht-compliant charging station has digitally signed and encrypted the measurement data of a charging session, it sends it to AMPECO’s EV charging management platform through OCPP. The signed meter values are stored securely and made visible to the EV driver. To verify the data, EV drivers can access the public key along with the encoded signed value in the session summary screen in the mobile app and the charging session receipt. They can verify their accuracy using third-party transparency software (like S.A.F.E.).
As AMPECO operates globally, we continuously develop our EV charging management platform to cater to the diverse requirements of operators worldwide, including complying with regional market regulations and legislation such as Eichrecht, among others.
