Cal EPIC, CharIN, KERI, and Momentum to establish the Capital Charge Yard, advancing reliable, interoperable EV charging infrastructure statewide

Sacramento, CA — The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded $4 million to Cal EPIC (California Energy, Power, and Innovation Collaborative), in partnership with CharIN (Charging Interface Initiative), KERI (Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute), and Momentum, to create and operate California’s first EV Charger Testing and Interoperability Lab, known as the Capital Charge Yard.

The Capital Charge Yard will serve as a publicly accessible testing and demonstration facility where electric vehicle and EV charger manufacturers can validate interoperability, develop future charging standards, and explore vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. In addition to technical testing, the facility will host annual policy conferences and public demonstration events to inform regulators, industry leaders, and stakeholders.

“Investing in Cal EPIC and our partners lets us show regulators, elected officials, and others what’s now and what’s next in clean transportation technology,” said Orville Thomas, CEO of Cal EPIC. “Sacramento will help drive EV charger policy and research and development, while ensuring that chargers work reliably when drivers plug in.”

As part of the initiative, CharIN, a global nonprofit association advancing standards-based and interoperable EV charging, will organize a series of interoperability testing events involving vehicles, chargers, and test systems. CharIN will also integrate its conformance testing framework, providing standardized, repeatable, on-demand test cases and validation protocols.

KERI will contribute proprietary technology and expertise from South Korea to test EV charger operation and conformity, drawing on its experience operating the Global Interoperability Testing Center (GiOTEC). Momentum will support the long-term, sustainable operation of the Capital Charge Yard beyond the CEC’s catalytic funding period.

“Congratulations to Cal EPIC on the launch of this dedicated EV charging test facility—an important step toward building a more reliable, interoperable, and future-ready charging ecosystem,” said Erika Myers, Executive Director of CharIN North America.

“It is a great honor for KERI to serve as the lead planner for interoperability testing within the Capital Charge Yard,” said NamGyun Kim, President of KERI. “By leveraging our extensive experience in operating the Global Interoperability Testing Center (GiOTEC)—which aligns perfectly with the vision of Charge Yard—we aim to ensure seamless integration across the EV charging ecosystem.”

The Energy Commission grant runs through 2030, with the Capital Charge Yard tentatively scheduled to open later this year. Industry support for the project includes Rivian, ChargePoint, Kempower, Nextracker, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).

About Cal EPIC

Cal EPIC (California Energy, Power, and Innovation Collaborative) is a Sacramento-based organization advancing clean energy, transportation, and manufacturing innovation through applied research, testing, and collaboration between industry, government, and academia.

About the California Energy Commission  

The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, encouraging energy efficiency, certifying power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.