India’s LECCS standard and OCPP2.LITE protocol streamlines charging for electric two and three-wheelers, fostering an interoperable network and positioning India as a global leader in EV technology, writes Vignesh Reviraj, Head of Product– Ecosystem, Ather Energy, India.
Regions like India, Southeast Asia, South America, and sections of Africa heavily rely on two wheelers as their primary mode of transport due to infrastructure availability and cost sensitivity. However, as the global transition towards electric vehicles from traditional internal combustion engines progressed, the primary focus of research and development remained on four-wheeled vehicles. This inclination was expected, given that many countries that initially prioritized electrification had a higher prevalence of four-wheeled vehicles.
Consequently, efforts extended to establishing standards for vehicle charging for EV4W – like CCS2 and CHAdeMO. Even the communication protocols were mainly tailored for four-wheeled vehicles, incorporating features like Vehicle-to-Grid charging, which are relevant only for vehicles with larger capacity battery packs.
In India, the initial price for a four-wheeled electric vehicle averages at ~ INR 20 lakhs, whereas the average cost for an EV two-wheeler is approximately ~ INR 1.2 lakhs. With such significant price disparity, various aspects including manufacturing, vehicle components, charger size, connector type, and associated costs need substantial downsizing.
While reductions in battery size, overall material usage, and a reduced feature list contribute to lowering the total product cost, challenges arise when considering aspects like charging connectors and communication standards, which are designed and standardized for larger vehicles and higher power.
The global charging standards like CCS2 cater to charging power levels of 400 kW+ and are extremely bulky and very expensive to be used in EV two-wheelers and three-wheelers, where the charging power levels required are less than 12 kW (given the much smaller size of the battery).
These challenges brought forth the need for the development of a standardized and interoperable charging network that can cater to the charging requirements of the large number of EV two-wheelers, hence alleviating the charge range anxiety of the drivers. An interoperable charging network ensures that all EVs using the same charging standard can charge through this network, which has a dual effect of increasing the density of chargers available for the rider and increasing the utilization and revenue from the charging station for the Charge Point Operator (CPO).
In 2021, Indian OEMs came together and worked along with NITI (National Institution for Transforming India), BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), and BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) to develop LECCS – Light Electric Combined Charging System. This was published as Indian Standards IS 17017 (Part 2/Sec 7):2023 and IS 17017 – Part 31:2024 in August 2023 and March 2024, respectively.
It is the first standard developed to cater to the charging requirements of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) in India and is the world’s first combined AC (Alternating Current)/DC (Direct Current) charging standard tailored for electric two and three-wheelers. The general grid supply is 230V AC, and the vehicle battery requires DC to charge. The charger converts the 230V AC to the relevant DC voltage.
LECCS has the ability to dispense AC and DC through the same connector, which gives OEMs the versatility of having both the AC to DC converter for their complete portfolio of products and only one connector and one network for charging electric two-wheelers.
As the global transition towards electric vehicles from traditional internal combustion engines progressed, the primary focus of research and development remained on four-wheeled vehicles.
While standardization efforts for hardware, progress was being made well, but the software communication stacks also needed re-evaluation. OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), a globally accepted protocol for communication between chargers and Charge Management Systems (CMS), proved too complex for the light electric ecosystem. Designed with features like Vehicle-to-Grid power transfer for four-wheelers, it was redundant for lighter electric vehicles. Recognizing this, the Open Charge Alliance, in association with Indian and global EV manufacturers, is working to develop a streamlined version called OCPP2.LITE. This new stack includes firmware optimization and a protocol that will simplify communication.
While standardization efforts for hardware were progressing well, the software communication stacks also needed re-evaluation.
by focusing on core charging processes, reducing data packages, and relay frequency, which will lower complexity, integration, component, and operational costs for the light electric vehicle ecosystem.
All of these efforts to develop technologies for a standardized and interoperable charging network for Light Electric Vehicles led by India will hasten the electrification of two-wheelers and three-wheelers around the globe. Additionally, they will enable the Indian EV ecosystem to become an exporter of critical technology, contributing to the country’s long march toward becoming one of the most important automobile markets in the world.
Vignesh Reviraj
Head of Product– Ecosystem
Ather Energy, India.