The California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP) is a California program for evaluating EV chargers and approving them for commercial, public use in California. The Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is the government agency that administers the CTEP.
Before any new type of weighing or measuring device can be sold or used for commercial purposes in California, it must be evaluated and approved by DMS. This agency examines the design and performance of new commercial weighing or measuring devices to determine if these devices are suitable for their intended uses, are accurate, operate correctly, have all required markings, and prevent the facilitation of fraud.
Upon successful CTEP evaluation, DMS issues a Certificate of Approval (COA) that allows the device to be used for commercial purposes. Since electric vehicle fueling systems comprise technologies that measure and dispense electricity, EV hardware is subject to CTEP approval. DMS provides thorough information about the application and approval process online and can be contacted by phone at 916-229-3000.
If you are considering buying and installing EV chargers in California for public use, you will need to discuss with your installer whether they must be CTEP approved. The approvals process can take many months for hardware not already approved.
References: