Installing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVSE) does not just consist of fixing a station and launching a first charge. The installation must integrate correctly with the existing electrical supply, protect people and equipment, and then be tested under conditions close to its actual use.
The exact list of formalities depends on the project: individual house, co-ownership, company, public-access building, public car park, EVSE power, and connection type. There is therefore no single checklist that would replace site analysis. However, several families of controls must be anticipated in almost all projects.
1. Verify the project scope before testing
Before checking the station, you must ensure that the completed installation corresponds to the planned installation. This documentary verification avoids testing a solution different from the one that was sized or declared.The end-of-site file must notably allow for the identification of:
- the installed charging points and their set power;
- the supply diagram and cable routing;
- the installed protections and their rating;
- the connection mode and control equipment;
- load shedding or supervision settings;
- equipment manuals and references.
2. Check the power supply and electrical sizing
A charging station can operate for several hours at high power. The check must therefore focus on the actual capacity of the installation, and not just on the commercial power of the station.First, confirm that the available power is compatible with the chosen charging and that the circuit is correctly sized. The cable section, its laying method, and the length of the run must remain consistent with the power demand and allowable voltage drops.
The check also covers the distribution board and upstream equipment. The station setting must not exceed the installation capacity, and load shedding or power modulation must react correctly when a control system is planned.
In a collective car park, sizing must also take into account the evolution of the number of charging points. An installation may be compliant for a first station while becoming unsuitable if several users connect later without a control strategy.
3. Verify protections and safety continuity
The decree relating to charging infrastructures requires the installer to verify the compliance of the electrical installation with current safety requirements. It also mandates a dedicated circuit for each charging point and dedicated residual current protection for the circuit, with a residual current device (RCD) not exceeding 30 mA.On-site, the handover must verify the presence, identification, and consistency of the protections planned in the file. Essential points include:
- overcurrent protection and adapted differential protection;
- earthing and continuity of protective conductors;
- equipotential bonding where the context requires it;
- tightness and condition of accessible connections;
- mechanical protection, cable identification, and compatibility with the existing board.
4. Inspect the station and its physical installation
Compliance also concerns the placement of the station. Before commissioning, its condition, fixing, and immediate environment must be checked.The station must be securely fixed, accessible, and adapted to its environment. Cables must not be pinched or exposed to abnormal mechanical stress, and the protection rating (IP) must correspond to the installation site.
In a car park or traffic area, impacts, pedestrian passage, and tripping hazards must also be anticipated. Identification must remain legible and sufficient clearance must be maintained for use and maintenance.
In a shared space, it must also be verified that the station is usable without creating conflict with traffic, doors, ramps, neighbouring spaces, or car park safety devices.
5. Perform functional and charging tests
Powering up is only the beginning of the handover. You must then verify that the complete chain works: station, protections, vehicle or load simulator, access control, management, and supervision.A test sequence may include, depending on the project:
- powering up and verifying the absence of alarms;
- unlocking or authentication test;
- launching a charging session;
- checking the current or power delivered;
- verifying the normal stop of the charge;
- testing the stop on fault or safety action;
- verifying restart after a power cut when this function is planned;
- checking data reporting in the supervision system;
- verifying metering, badges, or payment if the site is equipped;
- checking load shedding and return to normal power after the constraint disappears.
6. Identify cases where a CONSUEL certificate is required
CONSUEL formalities are not identical for all EVSE. According to the guidelines, commissioning an EVSE with a power greater than 36 kW is subject to obtaining a certificate of conformity, including in the case of indirect connection.In collective residential buildings, a certificate is required regardless of the EVSE power. A certificate may also be necessary when modifying an existing EVSE, particularly if the addition of charging points leads to exceeding 36 kW or a change in the delivery point power.
The type of certificate and additional documents depend on the context. CONSUEL distinguishes between the yellow certificate for an EVSE located in a residential building (collective or individual) and the green certificate for an installation in a building receiving workers or the public, or on public property.
For a collective car park, a layout plan of the equipped spaces may be requested. In certain monitored power configurations, a technical file relating to short-circuit risks may also be required. For an EVSE in a building receiving workers or the public, an inspection report from an accredited body is also mentioned.
These indications must be confirmed for the specific project before work and before the certificate request. The 36 kW threshold, the type of building, the connection, and the possible modification of an existing installation can change the applicable procedure.
7. Hand over a usable commissioning file
A compliant installation must also be understandable for the person who operates and maintains it. The end-of-site file must gather information truly useful for site handover:- circuit identification, protections, and test results;
- equipment references, manuals, and settings;
- power, load shedding, and supervision parameters;
- connection and access management information;
- the CONSUEL certificate when required and any cleared reservations;
- safety instructions and maintenance contact.
8. Use a handover checklist before handing over the keys
Before declaring the installation operational, the project manager can request a formal handover. It must answer four simple questions:- Safety: have protections, earthing, cabling, and placement been verified?
- Operation: has each charging point been tested under the planned conditions?
- Documents: are results, settings, manuals, and certificates available?
- Exploitation: does the user know how to start a charge and contact the right person in case of a fault?
Conclusion: Commissioning is prepared before the final connection
The compliance of an EVSE installation rests on a coherent whole: needs study, sizing, protections, installation quality, tests, documents, and formalities adapted to the project. The final check should not be improvised on the day the keys are handed over.For an installation in a house, co-ownership, or company car park in Île-de-France, MgTEC can study the electrical context, the number of charging points, and operational constraints to define the checks to be planned before commissioning.
FAQ — EVSE Installation Checks and Compliance
Regulations require the intervention of a qualified professional and, except for certain low-power devices in private housing, a professional holding an EVSE installation qualification issued by an accredited body. The exact scope depends on the device and the project context.
