India–EU Deepen EV Collaboration with Focus on Interoperable Charging Technologies

A key focus of the workshop was developing harmonised and interoperable EV charging systems, critical for enabling seamless cross-border EV adoption.

India and the European Union have taken a significant step toward building a globally interoperable electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, hosting a high-level three-day workshop on EV charging technologies at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra.

The 2nd India–EU Workshop on EV Charging Technologies, held from March 15–17, 2026, was organised under the India–EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), signalling growing strategic alignment on clean mobility and green energy innovation.

Strengthening Strategic Green Partnership

The workshop reflects deepening cooperation between India and the EU in:

• Clean and sustainable mobility

• Advanced energy systems

• Future-ready industrial ecosystems

Officials emphasised that collaboration in EV technologies is central to:

• Reducing emissions

• Building resilient supply chains

• Accelerating global energy transition

Push for Global EV Charging Standards

A key focus of the workshop was developing harmonised and interoperable EV charging systems, critical for enabling seamless cross-border EV adoption.

Discussions centred on:

• Standardisation frameworks

• Interoperability protocols

• Policy and regulatory alignment

Dr Rakesh Kaur (Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, India) highlighted the importance of building “trusted, future-ready charging ecosystems” through international cooperation.

Advanced Technologies Take Centre Stage

The workshop explored cutting-edge EV charging innovations, including:

• Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) for heavy-duty vehicles

• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and bidirectional charging

• Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technologies

• Smart grid integration and energy management systems

Participants also reviewed the latest developments in:

• ISO 15118-21 standards for V2G communication

• Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) for interoperability

Industry, Academia and Policymakers Converge

The event brought together a broad ecosystem of stakeholders:

• Government policymakers

• Standards organisations

• Automotive and energy companies

• Research institutions and universities

Major participants included:

• Tata Motors, ABB, SCANIA/TRATON, IVECO, ENEL X, Fraunhofer Society

• Academic institutions like IIT Madras and University of Mumbai

• Global research labs such as Argonne National Laboratory

Hands-On Exposure to Advanced Testing Facilities

Delegates visited JRC’s state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• EV interoperability testing labs

• Smart grid simulation centres

• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) labs

• Real-world EV charging test environments

These facilities support data-driven research and validation of EV technologies, crucial for standard-setting and deployment.

Toward a Unified Global EV Ecosystem

Experts stressed that interoperability is essential for:

• Seamless EV charging across regions

• Reducing infrastructure fragmentation

• Enhancing user convenience

India and the EU are working toward:

• Common standards

• Shared testing frameworks

• Collaborative R&D

Clean Mobility as Economic Opportunity

Beyond sustainability, EV collaboration is also seen as a driver of:

• Industrial growth

• Innovation-led economies

• Job creation in green technologies

The partnership aligns with both regions’ ambitions to lead in clean mobility and advanced manufacturing.

A Step Toward Global EV Integration

The workshop concluded with a strong commitment from both sides to:

• Deepen technical cooperation

• Expand knowledge exchange

• Accelerate deployment of interoperable EV infrastructure

As global EV adoption accelerates, the India–EU partnership is positioning itself at the forefront of building a secure, standardised and future-ready clean mobility ecosystem.