SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – How accurately does your local EV charger measure up? A little-known Vermont state program is starting to dig into that question.
Sumner Kuehne with the Agency of Agriculture is checking out an EV charger outside South Burlington’s City Hall, but he’s not plugging in, he’s using Vermont’s first EV testing equipment.
“It is very exciting to be probably one of the first people in the nation going out and testing these devices,” said Kuehne, who works with the agency’s Weights & Measures program, testing everything from cords of firewood to supermarket scales to gas pumps.
They began testing EV chargers a few weeks ago as part of a new federal regulation ensuring public commercial level 2 EV chargers deliver ample energy.
“This program is going to add the legitimacy and consumer confidence in the electric charging program throughout the state of Vermont,” said the agency’s Marc Paquette.
Kuehne has tested dozens of chargers across Chittenden and Washington Counties.
“We just want to make sure that customers who have electric vehicle charging stations that are purchasing electricity at public locations are getting what they’re paying for,” he said.
Once plugged in, the Tesco EV Test System measures the charger’s kilowatts per hour voltage..”It’s gonna compare what was actually delivered vs. what the unit claims it delivered,” Kuehne explained. Every charger tested so far has met the mark, but he expects to run into issues with older chargers as he tests his way across the state. “Start a dialogue with the owner. Potentially talk about changing parts or potentially getting a new device.”
The Weights & Measures team says it’s a big task but essential to keep up with the growing number of Vermonters and tourists driving EVs. “When they put their credit card in or they use the application and they get that charge — whenever they get that billing– that what they purchase is real and accurate,” Paquette said.
Agency officials will attend a conference this summer to discuss when testing like this could come to DC fast chargers.