European Commission backs Hubject interoperability tests in Berlin

Hubject’s Spring Tech Days 2026 in Berlin brought together 100 senior EV charging leaders and a European Commission policy official to test live ISO 15118-20 interoperability. The event underscored how regulation, certification and charging standards are converging as Europe moves toward wider Plug&Charge and bidirectional charging deployment.

Why it matters: - The EV charging industry is moving from standards discussion to live interoperability testing, which affects how quickly drivers, automakers and charging operators can deploy Plug&Charge and bidirectional charging. - AFIR implementation and ISO 15118-20 are setting a higher bar for cross-border charging compatibility in Europe. - Hubject used the event to position itself as a central testing and coordination point for the sector.

What happened: - Hubject closed out Spring Tech Days 2026 in Berlin after three days of industry meetings focused on EV charging interoperability. - The event brought together 100 senior decision-makers from across the EV charging ecosystem. - Saki Gerassis, Policy and Data Officer at the European Commission, led the opening regulatory session. - The session focused on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, the Commission’s standardization approach and a targeted review scheduled for the end of 2026. - Gerassis said the industry is facing a complex change and needs a common basis supported by legislation and evolving standards.

The details: - The European Commission session highlighted that close to 14 million battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are now on EU roads. - The same session noted more than 1.2 million public charging points across the EU. - The EU STF PKI Ecosystem CTL Interoperability Working Group held an on-site session during the event. - That working group focused on aligning European standards development with live Plug&Charge deployment. - The group pushed for requirements that support an open, neutral PKI ecosystem for the European market. - At the Hubject Testing Facility, attendees watched two charging sessions run in parallel on one charger. - One session showed Plug&Charge authentication under ISO 15118-2. - The other session showed ISO 15118-20 with bidirectional charging in dynamic mode and full OCPP 2.1 integration. - Hubject introduced a new ISO 15118-20 service portfolio aimed at simplifying compliance. - The portfolio includes advisory and roadmap support, implementation guidance and independent certification testing at the Hubject Testing Facility. - The testing output is designed to give operators, vehicle manufacturers and EVSE manufacturers proof of compliance for partners and regulators.

Between the lines: - The live demo signals that interoperability is no longer just a policy goal; it is becoming a practical deployment test. - The presence of the European Commission suggests regulators want direct feedback as AFIR implementation progresses. - Hubject’s certification and advisory package shows the company sees compliance as both a technical hurdle and a market unlock. - Christian Hahn, CEO of Hubject, said ISO 15118-20 is the foundation for the future open smart charging ecosystem and that the event showed the importance of aligned partners.

What's next: - The European Commission’s targeted review of AFIR is scheduled for the end of 2026. - Industry participants are expected to keep working on open PKI alignment, Plug&Charge deployment and ISO 15118-20 readiness. - Operators, automakers and charging equipment makers will likely use certification and testing to prove interoperability as the standard rolls out.

The bottom line: - Berlin’s event showed the EV charging sector moving toward real-world ISO 15118-20 interoperability, with regulation, testing and certification now tightly linked.