Voltec Charging System EMC Requirements and Test Methodologies

With the advent of vehicle manufacturer driven on-board charging systems for plug-in and extended range electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Volt, important considerations need to be comprehended in both the requirements specified as well as the test methodologies and setups for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Typical automotive EMC standards (such as the SAE J551 and SAE J1113 series) that cover 12 volt systems have existed for many years. Additionally, there has been some development in recent years for high voltage EMC for automotive applications. However, on-board charging for vehicles presents yet another challenge in adopting requirements that have typically been in the consumer industry realm and merging those with both the traditional 12 V based system requirements as well as high voltage based systems. This paper will investigate those additional EMC standards (used in the consumer electronics industry) that are applicable to on-board charging systems as well as what modifications need to be made to those standards to adopt them to an on-vehicle implementation. Additionally, this paper will explore the specific details of the existing 12V EMC standards and procedures, indentifying which are directly applicable and how the specific test setups may need to be adjusted.