ISO 15118 is not a requirement for home charging, and a basic home charger does not use it. The standard defines how a car and a charger exchange data — identity, authorisation and power limits — and that conversation matters mainly at public and DC chargers. It can run over AC charging, so it may appear on some equipment, but nothing about charging at home depends on it.
Key Takeaways
- ISO 15118 is not required for home charging, and basic home chargers do not use it.
- It matters mainly at public and DC chargers, where Plug & Charge and managed sessions run.
- Home smart features come from the charger’s own app and controls — a different layer from the standard.
- No EVDANCE listing states ISO 15118 support; confirm the exact model in writing if a project needs it.
Where the Standard Actually Shows Up
ISO 15118 is the conversation half of charging; the plug shape is the physical half, and the two come from different standards, as our comparison of Type 2, J1772 and NACS connectors shows. Where the conversation is worth having depends on the setting:
| Setting | Does ISO 15118 matter there? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Public DC fast charging | Often | Plug & Charge identifies the car and settles payment automatically, and power limits are renegotiated as the battery fills |
| Networked public and workplace AC | Sometimes | Managed sites may use it for smart sessions, where car, charger and network all support it |
| Basic home AC charging | No | The charger signals that power is available and the car draws it; no data conversation is needed |
| Bidirectional (V2X) projects | Part of the picture | The standard family also covers two-way energy flow, delivered by specialist equipment and programmes |
What a Home Charger Uses Instead
A home session is deliberately simple. The charger tells the car how much current it may take, the car takes it, and the session ends when the battery is full or you unplug. Scheduling and cheaper-hour charging come from the charger’s or the car’s own timing features, not from ISO 15118 — our guide to smart charging and time-of-use tariffs covers how that layer works.
Do not confuse the standard with OCPP either. OCPP runs between a charger and its operator’s backend, as our OCPP explainer sets out; ISO 15118 runs between car and charger. A phrase like “OCPP-ready” on a home charger says something about the network layer and nothing about ISO 15118.
Buying a Home Charger: Judge the Stated Features
No EVDANCE product listing states ISO 15118 support, so treat it as a written-confirmation question for the exact model if a project genuinely needs it — for example a Plug & Charge pilot. For normal home buying, judge the features the listing does state. The EVDANCE EV-ACT5006T is a 48 A Level 2 wall charger with a NACS connector, 25 ft cable, IP65/IP66 sealing and ETL, FCC and CE stated. The EVDANCE EV-ACT3204PE is a 22 kW three-phase Type 2 wallbox with RFID and app control for managed home and workplace charging. Neither needs ISO 15118 to charge your car tonight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my home charger need ISO 15118 to work?
No. Basic home charging — plug in and draw power — works without it. The standard only adds the smart layer on top: automatic identification and payment, planned sessions and bidirectional flow.
My car supports Plug & Charge. Will it still charge at home?
Yes. Plug & Charge is an extra the car can use where the charger and network support it. At a basic home charger the car simply charges normally, without the automatic identification step.
Is OCPP the same thing as ISO 15118?
No. ISO 15118 is the car-to-charger conversation. OCPP is the charger-to-backend protocol a network operator uses. A charger can state either, both or neither — read the exact model’s listing rather than assuming one implies the other.
Related Reading
- OCPP Explained: What Charge Point Operators Need From EV Charger Hardware
- Type 2 vs J1772 vs NACS: Which EV Charger Connector Does Your Market Need?
- Smart Charging and Time-of-Use Tariffs: How Scheduling Cuts EV Charging Costs
- Does J1772 Work With CCS? CCS Connectors Explained
