Zaptec has joined Task53, an international technology collaboration programme that brings together industry players to test and develop bidirectional charging (V2G) and ensure interoperability between vehicles, charging systems, and the power grid.
Task53 is part of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programme. The initiative aims to accelerate the global transition towards energy flexibility by enabling vehicles to draw power from the grid and supply it back — a key step towards a more balanced and resilient energy system.
As part of Task53, Zaptec will contribute to reference installations where automakers, grid operators, backend providers, and charging manufacturers collaborate to test real-life scenarios and feed results back to international standard committees. Leading carmakers such as Volkswagen are participating, highlighting the high level of industry engagement in creating interoperable V2G solutions.
For Zaptec, joining Task53 is both a strategic and collaborative move.
No man is an island. We can’t build the future of energy alone. By joining this reference system, we can test our technology against others’, confirm interoperability across different car and charger brands, and share our insights back to the people defining the standards.
Task53 focuses on testing the upcoming ISO15118-20 amendments for bidirectional charging and aims to align global efforts by addressing both AC and DC bidirectionality, along with the related grid codes. The goal is to create interoperable software that seamlessly connects vehicles, charging infrastructure, and grid operators.
The term interoperability might sound technical, but the concept is simple: everything should work together. Today, the standards for bidirectional charging are still under development and not fully implemented.
Different countries and regions have their own grid regulations, which slows the process. Task53 is about pushing this forward, testing what exists, and identifying what’s missing. Everyone wins when standards work seamlessly across markets, from manufacturers to end users.
Zaptec’s test case in the project will be its Zaptec Go 2 charger, which will provide hands-on data for interoperability and grid-integration testing.
Task53 will host several physical testing sessions at laboratories around the world. These meetings bring together the key players in the V2G ecosystem to perform interoperability testing and share learnings openly.
For Zaptec, the value goes far beyond the tests themselves.
Participating in Task53 strengthens Zaptec’s role as a forward-looking technology company. It also reinforces the company’s belief that open collaboration is essential to achieve scalable, sustainable energy solutions.
V2G can transform how we use and distribute power. Imagine 500 homes connected to the same transformer. Your car could literally help light up your neighbour’s house. It’s about balance, not capacity. We see the upside and want to help make it happen.
By joining Task53, Zaptec contributes directly to the groundwork that will make bidirectional charging a future concept and a reliable, interoperable reality.