CEC Awards $4 Million to Launch First-of-Its-Kind EV Charger Testing and Interoperability Lab in CA
Recently, The California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded $4 million to Cal EPIC (California Energy, Power, and Innovation Collaborative), in collaboration with CharIN, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), and Momentum, to develop and operate California’s first EV Charger Testing and Interoperability Lab, known as the Capital Charge Yard.
The Capital Charge Yard will function as a publicly accessible testing and demonstration facility where electric vehicle and charger manufacturers can validate interoperability, support the development of future charging standards, and evaluate vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. Beyond technical testing, the site will host annual policy conferences and public demonstration events designed to inform regulators, industry leaders, and other stakeholders about best practices and emerging challenges in EV charging.
“Investing in Cal EPIC and our partners lets us show regulators, elected officials, and others what’s now and what’s next in clean transportation technology,” said Orville Thomas, CEO of Cal EPIC. “Sacramento will help drive EV charger policy and research and development, while ensuring that chargers work reliably when drivers plug in.”
CharIN, the global nonprofit advancing standards-based, interoperable EV charging, will lead a series of structured interoperability testing events involving vehicles, chargers, and test systems. The organization will also deploy its conformance testing framework, enabling standardized, repeatable, and on-demand test cases and validation protocols to improve charging reliability across manufacturers.
“Congratulations to Cal EPIC on the launch of this dedicated EV charging test facility—an important step toward building a more reliable, interoperable, and future-ready charging ecosystem,” said Erika Myers, Executive Director of CharIN North America.
KERI will contribute proprietary technologies and technical expertise from South Korea, drawing on its experience operating the Global Interoperability Testing Center (GiOTEC) to assess charger performance and conformity. Momentum will focus on ensuring the long-term, sustainable operation of the Capital Charge Yard beyond the CEC’s initial funding period.
“It is a great honor for KERI to serve as the lead planner for interoperability testing within the Capital Charge Yard,” said NamGyun Kim, President of KERI. “By leveraging our extensive experience in operating the Global Interoperability Testing Center (GiOTEC)—which aligns perfectly with the vision of Charge Yard—we aim to ensure seamless integration across the EV charging ecosystem.”
The Energy Commission grant extends through 2030, with the Capital Charge Yard tentatively scheduled to open later this year. Industry support for the initiative includes Rivian, ChargePoint, Kempower, Nextracker, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).
Based in Sacramento, Cal EPIC advances clean energy, transportation, and manufacturing innovation through applied research, testing, and collaboration among industry, government, and academia. The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, responsible for advancing energy policy, promoting efficiency, certifying power plants, investing in innovation, expanding renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.
