APEC Economies Push for EV Charging Standard Coordination
Stakeholders from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Dalian, China, to discuss coordinating electric vehicle (EV) charging standards, with a focus on promoting interoperability and harmonization of charging infrastructure across APEC’s 21 member economies. The workshop, held as part of the APEC 2026 Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings, addressed how to enable EVs to “charge up, charge fast, and charge with peace of mind” across different markets, according to Xinhua News.
Why Standardization Matters Now
The push for coordinated standards comes as the global EV market accelerates rapidly. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global EV sales exceeded 20 million units in 2025, a 20% year-on-year increase representing approximately one-quarter of all new car sales worldwide. The IEA expects global electric car sales to reach 23 million in 2026, accounting for 28% of total car sales, as reported by Greentech Lead.
China, the world’s largest EV market, provides a large-scale application scenario for standards improvement. Data from China’s National Energy Administration shows that as of the end of June 2026, the country’s EV charging infrastructure reached 23.057 million charging points, a 43.2% year-on-year increase, according to Guangming Daily.
Building a Comprehensive Standards Ecosystem
EV charging has evolved from a simple connection between vehicle and power source into a complex ecosystem comprising vehicles, charging and swapping equipment, communication protocols, payment services, and the power grid. Any bottleneck in this chain can increase user wait times and business costs.
“China has formed a technical standards system covering charging interfaces, communication protocols, safety operations, and energy efficiency management,” said Hao Weijian, Chief Expert at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC).
Industry representatives emphasized the importance of an open and practical approach to standardization. “Standardization should adhere to an open, inclusive, and practice-oriented approach, with a focus on enhancing safety, reliability, and interoperability,” said Michinori Tanimichi, Chief Engineer at Honda Motor Co.’s Quality Innovation Operations Center.
Addressing Regional Challenges
Participants identified significant hurdles to cross-border EV charging compatibility. Different markets have varying interface, testing certification, and data rules, potentially forcing companies to face repeated testing and document submissions. Some regions also face constraints from grid capacity, land supply, and urban-rural layout differences.
Standardization is also redefining the relationship between vehicles and the power grid. Mo Tiande, a representative from the Hong Kong Productivity Council, described how vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can transform EVs from simple electricity-consuming devices into distributed energy storage resources, absorbing power when renewable energy is abundant and sending power back during peak demand.
Predictable and transparent standards are essential for long-term investment decisions, according to Elby Kramer, President of GM Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC). “Predictable, clear, and transparent policies and standards help companies make long-term investments and enhance consumer trust,” Kramer said.
A Path Forward
Participants suggested that economies could begin by unifying or linking testing methods, sample requirements, and report formats, while strengthening information sharing and mutual recognition of conformity assessment results. They also recommended leveraging existing international standards to advance cooperation on charging roaming, payments, cybersecurity, and data governance.
The EV charging standards workshop was one of approximately 130 meetings, workshops, and dialogues held in Dalian from August 17-28 as part of APEC’s year-long hosting by China. The meetings brought together senior officials and delegates from the 21 member economies for policy discussions spanning digital trade rules, food security, customs modernization, and supply chain resilience, as detailed in an APEC press release.
“The challenges facing our region are becoming more interconnected, and so is APEC’s response,” said Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, in the same press release. “The work taking place over the next two weeks helps economies solve practical problems together, from making supply chains more resilient to ensuring innovation and digital technologies support sustainable growth. This will then feed into the larger discussion that we’ll have during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week this November.”
What’s Next
The outcomes from the Dalian meetings will help shape discussions ahead of upcoming sectoral ministerial meetings, with senior officials reconvening later this year to prepare recommendations for ministers and leaders. The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week is scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen, marking the culmination of China’s third time hosting APEC, having previously hosted in 2001 and 2014, as noted on Wikipedia.
As EV adoption continues to surge across the region, the harmonization of charging standards will be critical to ensuring that drivers can travel seamlessly across borders. The discussions in Dalian represent a significant step toward building the interoperable infrastructure needed to support the Asia-Pacific’s green mobility transition.