This SAE Information Report SAE J2931 establishes the requirements for digital communication between Plug-In Vehicles (PEV), the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and the utility or service provider, Energy Services Interface (ESI), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Home Area Network (HAN).

This is the first version of this document and completes the step 1 effort that captures the initial objectives of the SAE task force. The intent of step 1 was to record as much information on "what we think works" and publish. The effort continues however, to step 2 that allows public review for additional comments and viewpoints, while the task force also continues additional testing and early implementation. Results of the step 2 effort will then be incorporated into updates of this document and lead to a republished version.

The SAE J2931 family of documents has been organized into several "slash" subsections:

This document, SAE J2931/1, defines architecture and general requirements including association, registration, security, and HAN requirements, as well as mapping to other SAE documents.

SAE J2931/2 is under development and is proposed to define a MAC PHY layer implementation of digital communications using FSK and the SAE J1772™ Pilot wire.

SAE J2931/3 is under development and is proposed to define a MAC PHY layer implementation of digital communications using NB OFDM and either the SAE J1772™ Pilot wire or mains.

SAE J2931/4 is under development and is proposed to define a MAC PHY layer implementation of digital communications using BB OFDM and either the SAE J1772™ Pilot wire or mains.

Testing and validation of the aforementioned physical layer specifications is ongoing, and it is possible that the results of said testing may preclude one or more of the proposed solutions as unable to meet the technical requirements. Reduction of the available options to a single, worldwide standard remains the long-term goal.

The document mapping of the PEV communication standards are further defined in section 4.

Purpose

The purpose of J2931 is to define the digital communications interface between the PEV and an off-board device to which it communicates. Such off-board devices may include one or more of an EVSE, DC charger, Home Area Network (HAN), AMI meter, etc.:

• To provide a safe electric energy transfer

• To interact with energy providers in a secure manner

• To communicate information to the customer on the transaction

In this regard, J2931 serves to complement SAE J1772™, which describes the analog communication between the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and the PEV. The Use Cases for communications between a PEV and the utility or service provider are described in SAE J2836™ with the functional message details included in SAE J2847.