OpenADR Alliance sees rapid growth in EV charging sector

The OpenADR Alliance has announced it has reached a significant milestone of 200 members, driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and supporting technologies. The Alliance, which is a global network of software and platform providers, device manufacturers, utilities and operators, and EV service equipment companies, has welcomed a number of new member companies in recent months. These include businesses with innovative EV-related models, such as advanced payment systems.

Created to foster the development, adoption, and compliance of the OpenADR and related communications standards, the OpenADR Alliance has seen managed EV charging platforms and systems become the fastest growing segment. Industry forecasts suggest that global EV sales will account for 16.2% of total vehicle sales by 2024, leading to an exponential growth in the demand for EV charging and energy management platforms.

Rolf Bienert, Technical and Managing Director of the OpenADR Alliance, commented on the progress: "As a global ecosystem, the OpenADR Alliance is going from strength to strength, evolving to meet new technology developments and investment in EV charging. It's encouraging to see this momentum build as utilities, automotive manufacturers, platform providers, and companies offering new solutions work together to meet the challenges of creating a fast, reliable, and robust infrastructure. We're proud to be part of this EV revolution."

The latest additions to the OpenADR Alliance include companies such as EVchron, who operate a network of DC Fast chargers, and Hypercharge, providers of smart EV charging solutions for businesses, commercial fleets, and municipalities. Others include Orange Charger, which focuses on property owners and multi-dwelling units (MDUs), and PayEnergy, the first cashless EV charging company. Wevo Energy, known for its EV charging management systems, was also acquired by SolarEdge in 2024.

In Europe, new members like Codibly in Poland, Cuculus in Germany, and E.ON Energy in Sweden have joined the Alliance in the past six months, reflecting the region's emphasis on energy flexibility. E.ON Energy's SWITCH digital e-marketplace, which allows network operators and customers to supply green electricity, exemplifies the type of innovative projects aligned with OpenADR standards.

The latest release, OpenADR 3.0, is the newest version of the OpenADR communications standard and certification program. Launched at the end of 2023, OpenADR 3.0 supports a growing range of distributed energy resources (DER), including EV charging, renewables, and energy storage. In a significant development, Duke Energy, a major US distribution utility, is collaborating with Ford Motor Company on two new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects to optimise the energy stored in EVs for residential customers using OpenADR standards.

The EcoPort program, which tests and certifies CTA-2045 compliant products, is gaining traction among utilities aiming to deliver demand response programs that turn customers' appliances into potential grid resources. Recently, states like Washington and Oregon in the US passed laws prohibiting the sale of water heaters unless they have EcoPort installed. EcoPort is also included in the US Department of Energy's Energy Star program.