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Use Cases for Customer Communication for Plug-in Electric Vehicles (SAE J2836/5:2021)
Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging differs significantly from conventional refueling—charging sessions can last hours, requiring customers to remotely monitor and control the process. SAE J2836/5:2021 addresses this need by defining use cases for communication between PEVs and their customers. This article summarizes the key use cases, scenarios, and engineering insights from the standard.
Understanding the Use Case Framework
SAE J2836/5 establishes the Use Cases for communications between plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and their customers. The use cases define information related to customer convenience features such as charge on/off control, charge power curtailment, customer preference settings, charging status, EVSE availability/access, and electricity usage. It also addresses customer information resulting from conflicts to charging preferences. The document is scoped to provide use cases and requirements to support the development of SAE Recommended Practice SAE J2847/5.
Note: SAE J2836/5 focuses on use case definitions and communications requirements, not protocols or physical transfer methods. Those specifications are handled by related standards such as SAE J2847/5.
Key Customer Convenience Functions
The standard details six scenarios under Use Case U8 (Customer Convenience Functions) and one scenario under U9 (Conflict and Resolution). These scenarios illustrate the information exchanged between the customer, PEV, and external entities like charge point operators.
| Use Case | Scenario | Description |
|---|---|---|
| U8 | A – Remote Start/Stop Charging | Customer remotely initiates or stops charging. |
| U8 | B – Cabin Pre-conditioning | Customer activates cabin conditioning before departure. |
| U8 | C – Charge Status Information | Customer obtains real-time charging status and progress. |
| U8 | D – Setting Customer Preferences | Customer adjusts charging preferences (e.g., timed charging, target state of charge). |
| U8 | E – Public Charging – Locate and Reserve EVSE | Customer finds and reserves a public charging spot. |
| U8 | F – Energy Usage History | Customer reviews historical charging energy consumption. |
| U9 | A – Conflict and Resolution | Customer is informed about conflicts between preferences and grid/EVSE constraints, and resolution options. |
These use cases ensure that PEV owners have the information and control needed to manage charging effectively, whether at home or in public.
Conflict Resolution and Grid Integration
Use Case U9 addresses scenarios where a customer’s charging preferences conflict with external conditions, such as grid load limits or EVSE availability. The standard defines how information about the conflict and possible resolutions (e.g., delaying charging, reducing power) should be communicated to the customer. This is critical for integrating PEVs into smart grid environments without compromising customer convenience.
⚠️ Important: Effective conflict resolution requires clear communication of grid constraints and customer options. Miscommunication can lead to user dissatisfaction or energy inefficiency.
Engineering Design Insights
From an engineering perspective 🛠️, the customer communications interface involves interaction between the customer, PEV, EVSE, and external entities like utility grids and charge point operators. Key design insights from the standard include:
- Remote Access: Customers must be able to remotely access charge settings and status, given the long charging times.
- Interoperability: Communication requirements must ensure interoperability across different PEVs and EVSE manufacturers.
- Payment Models: Varied payment models — from home billing to public charging fees — influence the data elements required.
- Scalability: Use cases support residential, multifamily, and public charging locations, including roaming and authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is SAE J2836/5?
- SAE J2836/5 is an SAE Information Report that establishes use cases for communications between plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and their customers, focusing on convenience features, charging status, and conflict resolution.
- How does the standard handle conflicts between customer preferences and grid constraints?
- Use Case U9 specifically addresses conflicts, defining how the customer is informed about deviations from their preferences and presented with resolution options.
- What customer convenience functions are covered?
- The standard covers remote start/stop charging, cabin pre-conditioning, charge status information, setting customer preferences, locating/reserving EVSE, and energy usage history.
- Is this standard related to other SAE standards?
- Yes. SAE J2836/5 complements SAE J2836/1 (grid communication) and provides the use case foundation for SAE J2847/5 (communication protocol).
