CHAdeMO Association

What CHAdeMO Association does

CHAdeMO Association is a Tokyo-headquartered, non-profit international standards organization founded in March 2010 by Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors, Fuji Heavy Industries, and TEPCO to develop and promote the CHAdeMO DC fast charging protocol for electric vehicles. The association operates with a lean staff of 5 employees alongside a Paris-based EU Secretariat, and coordinates a global ecosystem of more than 500 member entities from 48 countries spanning automakers, charger manufacturers, utility companies, charge point operators, municipalities, certification bodies, and NPOs.

The CHAdeMO protocol is a CAN-based DC fast charging standard published as IEC 61851-23/24 and IEC 62196-3 (Configuration 'AA'), EN 61851-23/24, IEEE 2030.1.1-2015, and JIS D61851-23/24. The protocol has evolved through versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 2.0, and 2.1, with the current 2.1 specification supporting up to 800A current and 800kW charging power, plus Plug-and-Charge functionality and All Solid State Battery support. CHAdeMO is the only international standard with defined V2G/VGI bi-directional charging specifications and mass-produced compatible EVs and chargers. Supporting offerings include the ChaoJi next-generation connector (co-developed with China's GB/T standard, targeting 900kW+ for heavy-duty applications), the C2Bike standard for EPACs and small LEVs, and a third-party certification system operated through accredited labs in Spain, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, the Netherlands, and the USA.

CHAdeMO's business model rests on three revenue streams: recurring membership fees (Regular, Supporting, and Special tiers), certification fees for testing CHAdeMO-compatible chargers, and licensing income from protocol specification sales via IEC, CENELEC, and IEEE. Only Regular member manufacturers are eligible for product certification, creating a tiered commercial funnel. The association distributes its standards through member companies and partners with IEEE, OCA, CEC, ECI, and the EU Sustainable Transport Forum to maintain policy influence and technical interoperability. 40,000+ CHAdeMO chargers operate in 89 countries supporting over 1 million CHAdeMO-compatible EVs globally.

Name

CHAdeMO Association

Legal name

CHAdeMO Association

Website

https://chademo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CHAdeMO Association is a Tokyo-based non-profit standards organization founded in 2010 that develops and promotes the CHAdeMO DC fast charging protocol for electric vehicles. It serves a global ecosystem of over 500 member entities from 48 countries, including automakers, charger manufacturers, utilities, and charge point operators, generating revenue through membership fees, certification services, and protocol licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Vehicle Charging Standards and Certification

NAICS

Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing (335931)

SIC

Electronic Connectors (3678), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAFAMAK

Testing, Certification & Compliance for Smart Charging/V2G (Grid Codes, Safety)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Storage & Grid Flexibility (Batteries, Hydrogen Storage, Demand Response)/Smart Charging & Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Flexibility

SECONDARYTLAKAMAG

EV Charging Network Management & Software Services (CPMS, Monitoring, Billing)

Transportation & Logistics/Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance, Repair & Services (MRO)/Battery, EV Charging & Electrification Service (EV/Hybrid)

SECONDARYIMAGAHAH

Charging Infrastructure Components (connectors, cables, dispensers, payment/controls)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Batteries, Energy Storage & Charging Equipment (Industrial ESS, chargers)

Keywords

• DC fast charging
• EV charging protocol
• Vehicle-to-grid technology
• Charging interoperability
• EV certification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from Regular, Supporting, and Special members. Fees fund activities including organizing workshops and meetings for technical information exchange, developing and improving certification tests, and developing communication tools and materials.
2. Certification Services: Certification fees for testing and certifying CHAdeMO-compatible chargers. Only chargers produced by CHAdeMO Regular member manufacturers are eligible for certification.
3. Protocol Specification Sales: Protocol specifications available for purchase from IEC, CENELEC, or IEEE websites. Detailed technical information including CAN communication requires Regular membership.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CHAdeMO Association develops, maintains, and promotes the CHAdeMO DC fast charging protocol — an internationally standardized electric vehicle charging technology published as IEC, EN, IEEE, and JIS standards. The association sells membership tiers (Regular, Supporting, Special), offers third-party certification services for CHAdeMO-compatible chargers through accredited laboratories, licenses protocol specifications, and convenes technical working groups across its ecosystem of 500+ member entities in 48 countries. It also extends into V2G/VGI bi-directional charging specifications, the ChaoJi ultra-high-power standard, and the C2Bike charging standard for light electric vehicles.

Product overview

CHAdeMO Association offers an integrated ecosystem centered on its DC fast charging protocol—the CHAdeMO Protocol—which serves as the core technical standard for electric vehicle charging. The product portfolio includes certified CHAdeMO Chargers from member manufacturers, V2G/VGI products enabling bi-directional grid services, standardized Connectors including next-generation ChaoJi, and CHAdeMO-compatible Electric Vehicles from leading automakers. Supporting services include the C2Bike standard for e-bikes and a global third-party Certification System guaranteeing interoperability. The protocol supports power levels from 6kW to 800kW, with the ChaoJi standard targeting megawatt-level charging for heavy-duty vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C2Bike (Charge2Bike): Charging standard for EPACs (Electric Power Assisted Cycles) and small Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), limited to 2kW maximum charging power and 60V maximum charging voltage.
• ChaoJi

Products and services

• CHAdeMO Protocol (DC Fast Charging Standard) Internationally standardized DC fast charging protocol for electric vehicles, enabling rapid charging through CAN-based communication between vehicle and charger. Published as IEC/EN (IEC 61851-23/24, IEC 62196-3), IEEE (2030.1.1), and JIS standards, supporting power levels from 6kW to 800kW.
• CHAdeMO Certification System Third-party certification service ensuring safety and interoperability across CHAdeMO chargers and vehicles, performed by accredited independent laboratories in Spain, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, the Netherlands, and the USA. Only chargers from CHAdeMO Regular member manufacturers are eligible.
• C2Bike (Charge2Bike) Standard Charging standard for EPACs (Electric Power Assisted Cycles) and small Light Electric Vehicles, limited to 2kW maximum charging power and 60V maximum voltage. Compatible with existing EPAC batteries via connection adapter.
• V2G/VGI (Vehicle-to-Grid/Vehicle-Grid Integration) Specifications Bi-directional charging specification enabling EVs to discharge power back to the grid or home. CHAdeMO is the only international standard with defined V2G specifications and mass-produced EVs and bi-directional chargers commercially available, supporting grid services including FCR and emergency backup power.
• ChaoJi Ultra-High-Power Charging Standard Next-generation ultra-high-power charging standard (up to 900kW+) developed in collaboration with China's GB/T standard, with applications for heavy-duty vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
• Type 6 / e-PTW Connector Standard Charging connector standard for L-category electric vehicles (motorcycles, scooters, tricycles, quadricycles) requiring appropriate connector sizes, 48V battery compatibility, and reduced vehicle weight/costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800kW maximum charging power with CHAdeMO 2.1 protocol
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• European Cycling Industries (ECI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026CHAdeMO joined ECI, Europe's largest bicycle industry association, to promote the CHAdeMO EPAC charging standard (C2Bike). Through this membership, CHAdeMO aims to deepen collaboration with EPAC industry stakeholders and policymakers across Europe while expanding the C2Bike standard.
• Open Charge Alliance (OCA)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2020Joint working group established to facilitate linking CHAdeMO with OCPP (standard communication protocol for managing charging services billing and charger maintenance/operation). Results published as white paper with joint web briefing in December 2020.
• China Electricity Council (CEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2018CHAdeMO Association and China Electricity Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration in the technical domain between CEC's GB/T standard and CHAdeMO standard, with hope of harmonization in the international ultra-fast charging standardisation arena.
• CenexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Project Sciurus, the world's largest residential V2G demonstrator. Cenex led the 325-household trial in the UK, funded by UK Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
• OVO EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company partner in Project Sciurus, providing V2G services with customers paid 30p per kWh of energy exported. The project demonstrated £30/month net energy bill savings per vehicle.
• EU Sustainable Transport Forum (STF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHAdeMO appointed as member of the EU Sustainable Transport Forum's sub-group on governance and standards for communication exchange in the electromobility ecosystem. The sub-group assists the Commission in defining minimum principles and creating a governance framework.
• IEEE Standards AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEEE published CHAdeMO as IEEE Standard 2030.1.1TM-2015, providing formal recognition in the US market following EN standards for Europe and JIS standards for Japan.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SAE International: SAE International develops and publishes automotive charging standards including SAE J1772 (AC charging) and is increasingly involved in NACS standardisation. It is relevant to CHAdeMO because both organisations operate in the EV-charging standards ecosystem and compete for influence over which connector/communication specifications OEMs adopt.
• ABB E-mobility: ABB E-mobility is one of the world's largest EV charger manufacturers and a long-standing CHAdeMO Regular member. As a broad incumbent producing both CCS and CHAdeMO-compatible DC fast chargers, ABB is comparable as both a customer/member and a wider market shaper influencing which standards succeed globally.

Emerging players

• Fermata Energy: Fermata Energy is a V2G software and services company whose bidirectional chargers are V2G-certified and CHAdeMO-compatible. As a CHAdeMO member actively deploying V2G infrastructure, Fermata is a focused peer in the bi-directional charging ecosystem that CHAdeMO has helped to standardise.
• Tesla (NACS): Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) has emerged as a competing DC charging connector and has been adopted by Ford, GM, Rivian, and others. As Tesla is also listed as a CHAdeMO member with earlier CHAdeMO-compatible vehicles, NACS represents both an overlapping and competing standard relevant to CHAdeMO's forward roadmap.
• Nuvve Corporation: Nuvve is a V2G technology and platform company that turns EV batteries into grid assets, operating in commercial fleet and school bus deployments. It is comparable to CHAdeMO's V2G leadership because both translate CHAdeMO's bi-directional protocol into grid services revenue, and Nuvve's deployments increasingly rely on CHAdeMO-compatible vehicles.

Others

• Open Charge Alliance (OCA): OCA develops and maintains OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), the dominant backend communication protocol between chargers and central systems. CHAdeMO partnered with OCA on OCPP integration guidelines, making OCA an adjacent standards body rather than a direct competitor on the charging interface itself.
• IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission): IEC publishes CHAdeMO specifications as IEC 61851-23/24 and IEC 62196-3, and also publishes competing standards such as those underpinning CCS and NACS. IEC is relevant as the standards-publishing body whose roadmap decisions directly affect which charging protocols become durable international standards.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO 15118): ISO 15118 defines the vehicle-to-grid communication interface and Plug & Charge standards that compete/overlap with CHAdeMO's PnC and V2G specifications. Both CHAdeMO and ISO 15118 are pursuing grid-integrated and Plug & Charge capabilities, and the relationship between them shapes OEM and CPO procurement decisions.

Regional players

• China Electricity Council (CEC) / GB/T: CEC manages China's GB/T DC fast-charging standard, the dominant regional standard in the world's largest EV market. CEC is CHAdeMO's ChaoJi co-development partner and a competitor for any market where Chinese OEMs operate, making it directly comparable as both a collaborator and a regional standards authority.

Direct peers

• CharIN e.V. CharIN e.V. is the industry consortium behind the Combined Charging System (CCS), which is CHAdeMO's principal direct competitor for DC fast-charging standards globally. Both organisations manage certification, member OEM/CPO engagement, and roadmap development for high-power EV charging protocols.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chademo_eu
• YouTubevimeo.com/chademo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chademo-association

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CHAdeMO Association