From May 19 to 21, 2025, ENI, BMWT, and ElaadNL organized the second BuildZero test event. During this event, manufacturers of electric construction machines, battery systems, and DC charging stations came together. Twenty-eight combinations of vehicles, charging stations, and battery systems were tested. What did we learn?
With the rise of zero-emission construction, charging infrastructure for mobile, heavy machinery is essential. Interoperability — the assurance that all components work together properly — is indispensable for the reliable and large-scale deployment of electric machines on construction sites. And a multi-day test event offers the perfect opportunity to thoroughly test and improve that interoperability.
During the second Build Zero event, tests were conducted by engineers from the following manufacturers:
The results once again underline the importance of testing, as compatibility issues could be identified and resolved at an early stage. The presence of engineers from vehicle, battery, and charging station manufacturers enabled fast and effective collaboration throughout the event. Below is an overview of the key findings.
An important improvement compared to the first test event is the increased use of the ISO 15118-2 protocol. Eighty-one percent of the working sessions used ISO, whereas during the first event, the DIN 70121 protocol was still predominantly applied.
The ISO protocol offers additional functionalities, such as pausing or postponing charging sessions that are particularly useful for smart charging at locations with limited grid capacity, such as construction sites.
Smart charging profiles were successfully tested in 12 combinations. In other cases, testing was limited by technical constraints or time restrictions.
Although not all combinations could be fully tested, the results show clear progress toward flexible and efficient charging. Smart charging will therefore be the central focus of the third BuildZero test event in 2026.
No consistent use of LED colors for charging status was found. ElaadNL recommends the following standard convention:
This convention has been the most widely used in the past and ensures clarity for users. Further standardization will be discussed during the pre-market OEM roundtable organized by ENI and ElaadNL.
There is currently no standard for the emergency stop function on vehicles. Of the four vehicles tested, three were equipped with an emergency stop, but only one was accessible from both inside and outside the vehicle. Recommendations on this topic will also follow from the pre-market OEM roundtable.