Inside the ChargeX Consortium: The Effort to Standardize EV Charging  

What is the ChargeX Consortium? 

In May 2023, The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation launched the National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX Consortium), a groundbreaking initiative to address key challenges in electric vehicle (EV) charging. Led by a team of experts from three renowned national laboratories—Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratories, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory—this collaborative effort aims to improve the U.S. EV charging experience by tackling critical issues that affect both EV drivers and industry stakeholders. 

The ChargeX Consortium’s work has focused on three major challenges in the EV charging ecosystem: payment processing and user interface, vehicle charger communication, and diagnostic data sharing during charging sessions. These areas have been identified as vital to ensuring that EV charging infrastructure, including public charging stations, functions seamlessly and reliably for all users. By working alongside a diverse range of organizations from the EV industry, the national laboratories have exchanged knowledge and insights to develop solutions that can be applied across the sector. 

The consortium’s efforts are aligned with the mission of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to accelerate the transition to an electrified transportation system that is affordable, convenient, reliable, and safe. Additionally, the initiative supports the office’s mandate to facilitate data sharing, which is crucial for the development of a national charging network. The initiative also recommends a set of minimum required EV charging error codes (MRECs) and their functional and responsibility classifications.  

The development of a centralized data platform for EV charger data reporting enabled the industry to better track and analyze charging reliability, ensuring continuous improvement in the sector. The consortium’s work on adapter safety publicized guidelines that address key safety considerations.  
 
Since its establishment, the consortium has worked closely with industry partners, including Lynkwell, to assess and enhance the customer experience at public EV charging stations across the United States. The overarching goal is to ensure that vehicles can be charged successfully every time at public stations, achieving a level of consistency that meets or exceeds the federal requirement of 97 percent uptime.  

A 2024 study by Harvard Business School said that charging stations in the U.S. have an average reliability score of only 78 percent, meaning that about one in five don’t work. 
 
To further support this effort, the national labs have collaborated with consumer advocacy groups to develop methods for measuring the customer charging experience. Collecting and analyzing customer feedback have been essential in tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement in EV charging reliability and usability over time. Based on these insights, the national labs have worked toward creating a voluntary program that recognizes charging station operators who consistently provide excellent charging experiences. Additionally, innovative solutions have been explored for testing EV and charger software before deployment, ensuring that all EVs are compatible with all chargers as the market continues to expand. 
 
Ultimately, the ChargeX Consortium represents a crucial step toward enhancing the quality of the nation’s public charging infrastructure. By focusing on collaboration, data sharing, and continuous improvement, this initiative has played a pivotal role in building a reliable, efficient, and customer-friendly EV charging network, safeguarding both public and private investments in the process. 

Lynkwell is Proud to Participate in the ChargeX Consortium 

ChargeX identifies areas for improvement in EV charging reliability and usability over time. Lynkwell’s stations are industry-leading in these regards, usually meeting or exceeding 99.99 percent uptime reliability for EV drivers. A streamlined user experience earned Lynkwell’s charging app 4.7 stars among drivers. Lynkwell has always chosen to prioritize quality and the level of top-quality support provided to customers. 

Lynkwell serves as a gateway to e-mobility and energy management, offering businesses, fleets, partners, utilities, and drivers a comprehensive range of solutions to advance clean transportation. Its platform, X‑Change, provides access to high-quality hardware, performance software, and a suite of services that enable seamless integration. Lynkwell offers efficient procurement options and insight into available programs, incentives, and rebates.  

Catch up on “The State of EV Charging Reliability Standardization” Shop Talk from the EV Charging Summit & Expo! 

Explore key insights from industry leaders—including Nick Bordeau (VP Engineering, Lynkwell), Kameale C. Terry (CEO, ChargerHelp!), and John Smart (Director, National Charging Experience (ChargeX) Consortium, Idaho National Laboratory)—as they discuss ChargeX’s mission and the future of EV charging interoperability in our recap of their panel at the Electric Vehicle Charging Summit & Expo.