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Vector Expands VDV 261 Support for Electric Buses
Collaboration with Hubject adds automated PKI-based certificate management and IPv4 integration to simplify secure preconditioning in electric bus depots.
www.vector.com
VDV 261 preconditioning of an electric bus. Image rights: Vector Informatik
Electric bus depots are under pressure to increase vehicle availability while meeting strict cybersecurity and interoperability requirements. To address these constraints, Vector Informatik has expanded its vCharM charging and energy management system with automated VDV 261 certificate handling and IPv4-compatible communication, developed in cooperation with Hubject.
Preconditioning Under the VDV 261 Framework
VDV 261 defines standardized communication for preconditioning battery-electric buses during charging. Preconditioning uses grid energy from the charging station to heat or cool vehicle components before departure. As a result, buses begin service fully charged without drawing additional battery energy for cabin or component heating during initial operation.
This mechanism directly affects usable energy at departure. Because thermal conditioning is completed while the vehicle is connected to the charger, the battery’s stored energy remains available for traction. For fleet operators, this supports range predictability and improves operational planning reliability in daily service.
Automating PKI-Based Certificate Handling
A core requirement of VDV 261 is encrypted TLS communication between the vehicle, charging station and backend system. All systems must use certificates issued by the same certification authority, ensuring mutual authentication and secure data exchange.
Until recently, these certificates were generated and distributed manually. For large depots with numerous chargers and vehicles, this process created administrative overhead and increased the risk of configuration errors.
Vector has integrated automated certificate management into vCharM through cooperation with Hubject, a public key infrastructure (PKI) operator. The system supports automated generation of VDV 261 certificates via a public PKI and their installation on charging stations and backend components. Since many vehicle manufacturers already pre-install Hubject’s root certificate, interoperability is simplified, and additional configuration steps are reduced.
Hubject has extended its established V2G-PKI to cover the VDV 261 use case. By leveraging an existing, scalable PKI infrastructure, operators avoid parallel certificate environments and reduce ongoing maintenance effort. For electric bus fleets operating within a broader digital supply chain, this consolidation lowers integration complexity across systems.
Enabling IPv6 Communication in IPv4 Networks
VDV 261 specifies IPv6-based communication between the vehicle, the charging station and the backend. However, many depot IT environments and mobile communication networks continue to operate primarily on IPv4 infrastructure.
Vector addresses this mismatch with vCharM.edge hardware, which integrates an IPv6-to-IPv4 proxy. This allows VDV 261-compliant communication without requiring operators to redesign or replace existing IPv4 network infrastructure. As a result, transport operators can implement standardized preconditioning while maintaining their current network architecture.
For depots with legacy systems, this approach reduces implementation time and avoids additional capital expenditure related to network upgrades.
Operational Impact for Fleet Operators
By combining automated PKI certificate management with IPv4 compatibility, Vector and Hubject remove two practical barriers to VDV 261 deployment: complex security configuration and mandatory IPv6 infrastructure.
In practical terms, buses leave the depot with completed thermal conditioning and maximum usable battery energy. This supports route stability, reduces range uncertainty in cold or hot weather conditions, and contributes to more predictable daily operations.
The new capabilities are fully integrated into Vector’s vCharM charging and energy management system and are available for both new installations and existing customers upgrading their systems.
www.vector.com
Electric bus depots are under pressure to increase vehicle availability while meeting strict cybersecurity and interoperability requirements. To address these constraints, Vector Informatik has expanded its vCharM charging and energy management system with automated VDV 261 certificate handling and IPv4-compatible communication, developed in cooperation with Hubject.
Preconditioning Under the VDV 261 Framework
VDV 261 defines standardized communication for preconditioning battery-electric buses during charging. Preconditioning uses grid energy from the charging station to heat or cool vehicle components before departure. As a result, buses begin service fully charged without drawing additional battery energy for cabin or component heating during initial operation.
This mechanism directly affects usable energy at departure. Because thermal conditioning is completed while the vehicle is connected to the charger, the battery’s stored energy remains available for traction. For fleet operators, this supports range predictability and improves operational planning reliability in daily service.
Automating PKI-Based Certificate Handling
A core requirement of VDV 261 is encrypted TLS communication between the vehicle, charging station and backend system. All systems must use certificates issued by the same certification authority, ensuring mutual authentication and secure data exchange.
Until recently, these certificates were generated and distributed manually. For large depots with numerous chargers and vehicles, this process created administrative overhead and increased the risk of configuration errors.
Vector has integrated automated certificate management into vCharM through cooperation with Hubject, a public key infrastructure (PKI) operator. The system supports automated generation of VDV 261 certificates via a public PKI and their installation on charging stations and backend components. Since many vehicle manufacturers already pre-install Hubject’s root certificate, interoperability is simplified, and additional configuration steps are reduced.
Hubject has extended its established V2G-PKI to cover the VDV 261 use case. By leveraging an existing, scalable PKI infrastructure, operators avoid parallel certificate environments and reduce ongoing maintenance effort. For electric bus fleets operating within a broader digital supply chain, this consolidation lowers integration complexity across systems.
Enabling IPv6 Communication in IPv4 Networks
VDV 261 specifies IPv6-based communication between the vehicle, the charging station and the backend. However, many depot IT environments and mobile communication networks continue to operate primarily on IPv4 infrastructure.
Vector addresses this mismatch with vCharM.edge hardware, which integrates an IPv6-to-IPv4 proxy. This allows VDV 261-compliant communication without requiring operators to redesign or replace existing IPv4 network infrastructure. As a result, transport operators can implement standardized preconditioning while maintaining their current network architecture.
For depots with legacy systems, this approach reduces implementation time and avoids additional capital expenditure related to network upgrades.
Operational Impact for Fleet Operators
By combining automated PKI certificate management with IPv4 compatibility, Vector and Hubject remove two practical barriers to VDV 261 deployment: complex security configuration and mandatory IPv6 infrastructure.
In practical terms, buses leave the depot with completed thermal conditioning and maximum usable battery energy. This supports route stability, reduces range uncertainty in cold or hot weather conditions, and contributes to more predictable daily operations.
The new capabilities are fully integrated into Vector’s vCharM charging and energy management system and are available for both new installations and existing customers upgrading their systems.
www.vector.com
