Milestone Unlocked: SWTCH Platform Secures CTEP Certification

The SWTCH platform has officially received California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP) approval!

Why this matters 

California is known for its rigorous standards for commercial weighing and measuring devices in the United States. Achieving CTEP certification means that the SWTCH platform meets some of the highest benchmarks in North America for metering accuracy and billing transparency.

The “Gas Pump” Standard for EVs

For decades, drivers have been able to trust gas pumps because they are inspected and certified to be accurate in declaring how much fuel they pump. As the world transitions to electric vehicles, that same level of trust is required for EV chargers.

This certification effectively validates the “meter” inside the charging solution. It tells the driver that when the screen says they received 10 kWh of energy, they actually received 10 kWh. This transition from estimation to certified precision is a critical step in maturing the EV infrastructure market.

Unlocking Fair Pricing: Energy vs. Time 

Perhaps the most significant benefit for our partners is the ability to bill fairly. Without CTEP certification (or its national equivalent), regulations often force operators to bill drivers by time (e.g., dollars per hour) rather than by energy consumed (dollars per kWh).

Time-based billing can be seen as imperfect because charging speeds vary greatly depending on the vehicle model, battery temperature, and state of charge. 

Advocates for kWh-based billing state that a driver with a slower-charging car shouldn’t pay more just because it takes longer to deliver the required energy.

CTEP certification allows SWTCH network operators to implement kWh-based pricing, ensuring a fair and transparent experience for every driver.

What this means for our Network 

This certification is an important marker of trustworthiness. Specifically, it offers:

• Unquestionable Accuracy: Validates that transaction data is precise, reliable, and secure.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures full compliance for charging operations in California—the largest EV market in the U.S.—and other states that recognize CTEP standards.
• Future-Proofing: Positions our partners to operate confidently in the most regulated markets, knowing their infrastructure meets the strictest legal requirements.

This achievement was made possible by the dedicated work of our product, engineering, and operations teams, who ensured our platform aligns with California’s stringent requirements. 

We are excited to bring this new level of certified reliability to our network.