EnergyBus defines the key interfaces

- within the vehicle, and to the charging infrastructure

Fundamentals

EnergyBus is based around a number of standards relevant to manufacturers and suppliers of LEVs and components. The international standard IEC TS 61851-3 sets out the requirements for charging interfaces for vehicle and component manufacturers, and this allows them to ensure that their products can access public charging infrastructure. In the future it should be possible to charge any LEV battery, anywhere. 

For batteries, the standard EN 50604-1 applies at the European level.

The master plug

EnergyBus has condensed the wide variety of existing charging systems into a single plug family, delivering a functional, safety-certifiable charging standard for the LEV sector. Three variations of the plug are specifically designed to meet the requirements of different vehicle types, and are based around the IEC DIN 62196-4 standard:

The FRAND licensing model

Like the popular USB Standard interface which works with Patented technologies licensed under FRAND licensing, which allows any party to become a supplier under the same competitive boundary conditions. The Patents owned by the EnergyBus association and members which are standard-essential (SEPs) are licensed under fair, reasonable, and non-discrimantory (FRAND) terms.  The licensing body is the EnergyBus Operations GmbH. Products can be tested for conformity by the EnergyBus GmbH and issued with a unique identification number (CANopen / EnergyBus ID) consisting of the CANopen vendor ID and the unique ID for each device. Products of EnergyBus member companies which pass the EnergyBus conformity are eligible to use the EnergyBus mark free of charge. The EnergyBus mark is a guidance for the users which promises the flawless interoperability with any other EnergyBus device. The FRAND licensing model is using the connectors as reference, this means that the vehicle maker does not pay any license - when he purchases the connectors the license fee is already included in the connector price. Connector makers are the license contract partners which have to acquire the license for each of their connectors. The License fees are differentiated by the number of licenses purchased and by connector or socket type: The EnergyBus-M plug/socket defined within the IEC TS 62196-4 / Standard Sheet 4-Ib commonly called magnet-connector or Rosenberger magnet connector which is defined to be used for example between the battery and the vehicle in case the battery is removable or a private AC/Dc converter to be connected to a removed battery: The License can be purchased in bulk minimum order 100.000 Units each 1,5 Euro and it comes with a passive NFC chip to be inserted into each connector set. This NFC chip has embedded the Unique ID which has a price tag of about 1 Euro covered by the license fee already. The Unique ID can be read out with all modern Smartphones and which can help to localize stolen devices and will be connected to the ID of the original owner. The price is only eligible for EnergyBus conform product applications with the EnergyBus brand used on the connector set.

The EnergyBus NFC connector series which are defined in the IEC TS 62196-4 Standard Sheet 4-IIc Plug / Vehicle Connector, Standard Sheet 4-IIb Plug / Vehicle Connector and  Standard Sheet 4-IIa Sheet 1 Socket-Outlet 60A/120V D.C.. Commonly called Charge lock, since it allows to plug in the fixed cable to the infrastructure for parking, securing and charging. The License model is differentiating by quantity and connector / socket type.

EnergyBus NFC Socket with electrical locking function. Definition can be found at IEC 62196-4 Standard Sheet 4-IIa Sheet 1 Socket-Outlet 60A/120V D.C.: 1,5 Euro at 10 million units and 4,5 Euro at 100.000 units with steps in-between.

EnergyBus 0V Connector: 0,4 Euro at 10 million units and 1 Euro at 100.000 units with steps in-between.

EnergyBus 60V/60A Connector: 0,5 Euro at 10 million units and 2 Euro at 100.000 units with steps in-between.

EnergyBus 120V/60A Connector: 1 Euro at 10 million units and 3 Euro at 100.000 units with steps in-between.

This pricing scheme is only eligible for EnergyBus conform product applications with the EnergyBus brand used on the connector set.

At the Eurobike 2025 2 more specific battery connectors have been presented which are published within a pre standard VDE SPEC 90035 V1.0. For them there are not jet agreed upon license fees available. But the reference to the other license fees could be used as indicator for the time being. Non conform proprietary solutions which use patents of the EnergyBus patent portfolio do as well need to pay license fees.

EFFICIENCY

This standardisation of the interface enables components, vehicles and infrastructure to form an interchangeable, open system. Components can be used in a variety of different vehicles, reducing their costs through economies of scale. More efficient system integration is made possible by the predefined interfaces – shortening development times and reducing development costs.

Sustainabiltiy

Individual components, system parts or software applications can be easily exchanged or added. Such flexible and swappable product ranges and systems are not only more environmentally friendly, they also deliver long-term planning security for decision-makers and manufacturers.