vSECC
vSECC is the charging communication controller for AC and DC charging stations and dual-outlet chargers, built for charging station manufacturers who need a proven, standards-compliant communication component rather than building and maintaining the protocol stack in-house. SECC stands for Supply Equipment Communication Controller: the hardware component inside the charging station that manages all communication between the vehicle, the charging station management system (CSMS) and power electronics. Covers ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 including Plug & Charge and bidirectional V2G, CHAdeMO, NACS, OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1 and OCPP 2.1. Designed for AFIR-compliant public charging infrastructure and scalable to shared-PE depot architectures with vSECC.InPlug.
Many Interfaces. One Controller.
vSECC sits at the center of the charging station and manages all communication interfaces simultaneously: the vehicle charging session, the backend connection, the power electronics and the local user interface hardware. Each interface handles a separate part of the charging session lifecycle.
Vehicle Communication
vSECC runs the EVSE side of the ISO 15118 communication stack, handling session setup, contract authentication, charge parameter negotiation and session control. Plug & Charge allows automatic identification without driver interaction. ISO 15118-20 adds bidirectional power negotiation for V2G and AC BPT sessions.
Backend Communication
vSECC connects to any OCPP-compliant CSMS via OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1 and OCPP 2.1 (in development). Session data, energy metering, fault states and authorization flows are handled by the OCPP layer. OCPP 2.0.1 also carries smart charging profiles from the CSMS, enabling the backend to set charging power limits dynamically per connector. vSECC connects to external service systems in fleet applications with value-added service servers, enabling features such as bus preconditioning according to VDV 261.
Station Integration and Power Control
vSECC bridges the communication stack for vehicle and backend communication with the power electronics in the charging station. Charging current and voltage setpoints negotiated with the vehicle and authorized by the backend are translated into power electronics commands. In shared-PE setups, vSECC coordinates power across multiple connectors via Smart Power Distribution and vSECC.InPlug. Local station hardware can be connected through discrete and MQTT-based interfaces, including LEDs, RFID readers, displays and payment terminals.
Why vSECC?
Charging station manufacturers face recurring challenges when building modern, AFIR-compliant, multi-standard DC infrastructure. vSECC solves these challenges with a single, future-proof platform.
- Instant AFIR-Compliant
vSECC provides ready-to-use support for ISO 15118 (Plug & Charge), enabling manufacturers to meet upcoming EU requirements without developing or validating their own compliance stack. - Ready for Bidirectional Charging
With built-in support for ISO 15118-20 BPT, vSECC enables seamless adoption of V2G and bidirectional use cases without redesigning the system architecture.
- Meeting All Standards
vSECC consolidates all major charging standards into a single controller, including ISO 15118-2/-20, DIN SPEC 70121, CHAdeMO, and NACS. This eliminates the need to integrate and maintain multiple communication stacks across connectors and markets. - Built to Scale
vSECC supports shared-PE charging architectures, enabling flexible layouts for fleet depots and high-density sites. vSECC.InPlug and Smart Power Distribution combined allow extended cable distances up to 100 meters and dynamically allocated power across connectors without changing the controller platform.
Which Connector Types Does vSECC Support?
vSECC supports CCS, NACS, CHAdeMO and pantograph-based charging, enabling multi-standard station designs with a single controller platform. Each charging point can be configured with one primary connector and an optional second connector, without hardware changes to the controller.
Adjust Architecture According to Your Needs
Paired Setup
One vSECC per charging station, managing vehicle communication, backend interaction, and power electronics within a single unit. Every charging station has its own power electronics that sits idle when there is no vehicle connected to it. Best suited for public charging, HPC stations, and depot installations where connectors and power electronics are already co-located.
Off-Site Setup
vSECC in combination with vSECC.InPlug or Smart Power Distribution enables spatial separation of connectors from power electronics. This allows for power electronics to be stored in one central place, which can be off-site or even underground. vSECC.InPlug brings communication into the connectors, extending cable distances up to 100 meters. Smart Power Distribution dynamically allocates available power across connectors, enabling efficient utilization of shared power electronics for fleet depots and high-utilization sites.
The Software Layer for vSECC
The functions of vSECC are implemented via the vSECC Software. vSECC Software handles all communication necessary for electrical charging: vehicle communication, backend management, power electronics control and peripheral device integration. The Linux-based system supports remote software updates via OCPP, enabling standard compliance and function extensions over the lifetime of the product.
Charging Standards
All relevant AC and DC charging communication standards supported, including ISO 15118-2/-3, ISO 15118-20 with Plug & Charge and bidirectional charging, DIN SPEC 70121, IEC 61851 and SAE J1772.
Remote Updates
Software updates via OCPP allow standard compliance to be maintained over the product lifetime without hardware changes. A web interface supports device configuration, log file analysis and PLC tracing.
Backend and Fleet
OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1 (IEC 63584) and OCPP 2.1 (in development) for charging station management. VDV 261 support for fleet bus preconditioning. MQTT for status information delivery to local displays and monitoring.
How Does vSECC Fit into the Product Family?
DC CABLE EXTENSION
vSECC.InPlug
Extends DC charging systems into multi-connector layouts by moving communication into each connector. Enables cable lengths up to 100 meters without requiring a second full controller. Used together with vSECC and Smart Power Distribution for scalable multi-connector depot architectures.
CHARGING STATION CONTROLLER
vSECC
Central communication controller for charging systems. Manages vehicle communication, backend sessions, and the interface to power electronics. Supports all major charging standards and AFIR requirements for public infrastructure. Serves as the central control unit in both single and shared-PE depot architectures.
CURRENT SELECTION
SOFTWARE LIBRARY
vSECClib
Software implementation of the vSECC communication stack for integration on your own hardware platform. Covers all major standards including ISO 15118-2/-20, DIN SPEC 70121, CHAdeMO, NACS, OppCharge, MCS, and OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1, 2.1 (currently developed). Designed for manufacturers who develop their own controller hardware but require a proven, production-grade protocol stack.
For compact products requiring only one single charge point, vSECC.single and vSECC.single Board provide the same communication stack in a smaller form factor. For high‑power applications, vSECC.MCS supports megawatt charging standards MCS. Across all products and variants, the same communication software is used; ensuring consistent behavior, simplified integration, and long‑term maintainability.
Protocol and Standards Coverage
| Vehicle charging protocol | ISO 15118-2 (AC and DC, Plug & Charge), ISO 15118-20 (bidirectional, multi-service, Plug & Charge), DIN SPEC 70121. Full SECC-side stack including SDP, TLS, V2GTP, EXI encoding and V2G application layer. |
| Bidirectional and V2G | ISO 15118-20 BPT (DC bidirectional power transfer), AC BPT and AC BPT DER (grid-forming and grid-supporting). Enables V2G and bidirectional charging sessions without a separate communication module. |
| Multi-standard vehicle support | CHAdeMO and NACS (SAE J3400) alongside CCS. Allows multi-standard DC station designs targeting broad vehicle compatibility in all markets. |
| Backend communication | OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1 (IEC 63584) and OCPP 2.1 (in development). Handles session management, authorization, energy metering, diagnostics, firmware updates and smart charging profiles. Compatible with all major CPMS platforms. |
| Plug & Charge (PnC) | ISO 15118 contract certificate-based authentication. Supports the full Plug & Charge workflow including contract certificate provisioning, verification and OCPP 2.0.1 integration for backend authorization. |
| Smart charging | Receives and executes smart charging profiles from the backend via OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1 (IEC 63584) and OCPP 2.1 (in development). In shared-PE setups, Smart Power Distribution coordinates power allocation across connectors at site level. |
| PLC | HomePlug GreenPHY for control pilot communication between station and vehicle. Works natively with vSECC.InPlug for cable extension to up to 100 meters in shared-PE architectures. |
| Regulatory compliance | AFIR ready. Meets EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation requirements including ISO 15118 Plug & Charge for all new public DC charging infrastructure deployed in the EU from 2025. |
| Deployment options | Deployment options: Single-controller per station or central controller in shared-PE depot architectures with vSECC.InPlug and Smart Power Distribution. Supports indoor, outdoor and industrial environments. |
Vector’s Contribution to Standardization
ISO 15118
PROJECT LEADER
International standard for vehicle-to-grid communication, bidirectional charging and Plug & Charge authentication. Vector contributes to both ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 working groups.
OCA
BOARD MEMBER
Open Charge Alliance: develops and maintains the OCPP protocol for charge point to backend communication, including OCPP smart charging and security extensions.
CharIN
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Charging Interface Initiative: promotes Combined Charging System (CCS) and MCS standards globally, and coordinates interoperability testing across vehicle and infrastructure manufacturers.
Industries Building with vSECC
vSECC is used by charging infrastructure manufacturers, Tier-1 automotive suppliers and system integrators developing charging stations, fast chargers and high-power charging infrastructure across all industries.
News and Events
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