Why Germany Requires MID and PTB Certification for DC Chargers — And How EVB Ensures Full Compliance

Across Europe, Germany has implemented the strictest regulations for public EV charging, especially in the areas of billing transparency and metering accuracy. For any DC charger to operate legally in the German market, it must comply with both MID (Measuring Instruments Directive) and PTB (Eichrecht metrology requirements).

This article explains why Germany enforces these rules — and how EVB’s DC charging solutions are designed to fully meet MID and PTB standards, enabling compliant deployment across Germany and wider EU markets.

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1. Why Germany Enforces the Strictest Metering Rules in Europe

1.1 Ensuring Accurate and Transparent Billing

Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and national metrology regulators require that every kilowatt-hour delivered to a vehicle must be:

• Measured accurately
• Recorded transparently
• Accessible to the end user

These requirements were reinforced between 2019–2024, as Germany expanded its public charging infrastructure and strengthened consumer protection policies.

1.2 Eichrecht: Germany’s National Metrology Law

Germany’s Mess- und Eichgesetz (Eichrecht) sets strict obligations for all measuring instruments used for commercial transactions. Eichrecht requires:

• Verified measurement accuracy
• Tamper-proof data logging
• Transparent, user-verifiable charging records

For DC chargers, this goes beyond simple MID compliance. Germany mandates additional testing by PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) to guarantee the integrity and transparency of the entire billing process.

1.3 Alignment with EU AFIR Regulations (2023–2024)

The European Union’s AFIR regulation now requires public charging stations to provide clear pricing, transparent energy measurement, and user-accessible billing information. Germany applies these rules with additional national requirements, making MID + PTB a must-have for any DC charger operating in the region.

2. Understanding MID and PTB Certification

2.1 MID — Measuring Instruments Directive (EU-Wide Requirement)

MID certification ensures that the DC energy meter inside the charger meets EU standards for:

• Measurement precision
• Repeatability
• Long-term reliability

MID is mandatory for all energy-based billing in the European Union.

Purpose: Ensure the energy delivered is measured accurately.

2.2 PTB — German National Metrology Approval (Eichrecht)

PTB certification verifies the data integrity, transparency, and security of DC charging systems.

PTB requirements include:

• Tamper-proof, encrypted metering modules
• Digitally signed transaction logs
• Real-time display of energy data to users
• Accessible, verifiable charging records

Purpose: Ensure the measurement data is transparent, traceable, and cannot be manipulated.

2.3 Why DC Chargers Require Both MID + PTB

Because DC charging involves high-power conversion and software-controlled output, Germany does not rely solely on MID-approved meters. PTB verification ensures the entire charging system — not just the meter — meets national transparency and anti-tampering standards.

Requirement	MID	PTB
EU measurement accuracy	✔	✔
Anti-tampering protections	✘	✔
Transparent user data	✘	✔
Germany Eichrecht compliance	✘	✔

Only chargers with MID + PTB compliance are legally eligible for public billing in Germany.

3. How EVB Meets MID and PTB Requirements

EVB designs its DC charging solutions specifically to meet the technical and regulatory expectations of Germany’s public charging market.

3.1 Integrated MID-Certified DC Energy Meter

EVB DC charging feature:

• Fully MID-approved DC energy meters
• High-precision measurement suitable for commercial billing
• Complete compliance with EU metering requirements

This ensures every delivered kilowatt-hour is measured accurately and consistently.

3.2 PTB-Ready Transparent Billing Architecture

EVB DC chargers are engineered to support the core requirements of German PTB / Eichrecht regulations, including:

1) Secure Measurement Module

• Encrypted hardware metering
• Digital signatures for transaction logs
• Protection against data tampering

2) Transparent, Verifiable Charging Logs

• Each charging session is recorded with secure timestamps
• Users can download or view their transaction data
• Compatible with operator and roaming platform audits

3) Real-Time Display of Measurement Data

• Voltage
• Current
• Delivered energy (kWh)
• Billing-relevant values

4) OCPP-Compliant Data Structure

• OCPP 1.6 & 2.0.1 supported
• Transparent billing APIs
• Eichrecht-aligned data models

4. EVB: Designed for Europe’s Most Demanding Compliance Standards

EVB’s DC charging solutions are engineered to meet:

• EU MID certification
• Germany PTB / Eichrecht requirements
• EU AFIR transparency rules
• OCPP 2.0.1 interoperability standards

This gives operators confidence that EVB chargers can be deployed in Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, and other markets with strict metrology governance.

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5. Conclusion

Germany requires DC chargers to comply with MID + PTB because it is committed to building the most transparent, consumer-protective EV charging ecosystem in Europe. MID ensures accuracy, while PTB ensures transparency, integrity, and legal compliance with Germany’s Eichrecht system.

EVB’s DC charging solutions are fully designed to support both standards, delivering:

• Precise energy measurement
• Secure and tamper-proof data logging
• Transparent billing information
• Compliance with both EU and German regulations

This allows EVB customers to operate confidently in Europe’s most demanding regulatory environments and ensures long-term trust in every kilowatt-hour delivered.