# Custom DC Fast Charger Specification Sheet: What to Include for NEVI
Key Takeaways
- A NEVI-compliant spec sheet is a legal procurement document, not a marketing datasheet — omit a mandatory field and the vendor's quote may be non-compliant by default.
- The five mandatory categories are: power output guarantee, connector standards, certification scope, Buy America documentation, and data/network protocol — with no placeholder values allowed.
- Simultaneous per-port output is the most commonly gamed spec — require a written guarantee of 150 kW sustained per port under concurrent load, not cabinet peak.
- UL/ETL certification must be model-specific and verifiable in UL Product iQ — a family listing or related-model number does not satisfy NEVI.
- Buy America documentation must include a bill of materials with component-level cost breakdown and final assembly address — a generic corporate letter is not evidence.
- Attach the completed spec sheet to your RFP and grant application as an audit anchor — vendors who complete it accurately are pre-qualified; those who leave blanks or hedge are not.
A specification sheet is the single document that determines whether the chargers you buy can legally be deployed at a NEVI-funded site. State DOT reviewers check it against FHWA minimum standards. Your grant agreement references it. Auditors compare installed hardware against it years later.
Yet most buyers treat the spec sheet as a formality — a copy-paste of the vendor's marketing datasheet with a few numbers filled in. The result: hardware arrives that cannot deliver 150 kW per port under load, lacks NACS connectors, or carries a UL listing for a different model. The project stalls, the grant timeline slips, and the compliance gap becomes an audit finding.
This article provides a field-by-field template for a NEVI-compliant DC fast charger specification sheet. It covers what to include, what to reject, and how to use the completed spec sheet as a procurement and compliance tool.
Why the Spec Sheet Matters for NEVI Compliance
NEVI does not certify chargers. It certifies projects. The spec sheet is the bridge between the two — it proves that the hardware you selected meets FHWA's minimum standards and gives state reviewers a concrete document to verify against.
A well-constructed spec sheet does three things:
- Pre-qualifies vendors. Any vendor that completes the sheet accurately has demonstrated they understand NEVI requirements. Vendors that leave blanks, hedge, or provide model-family instead of model-specific answers reveal themselves before you waste time on negotiations.
- Anchors the grant application. Attach the completed spec sheet to your application. It shows reviewers you have done the compliance work upfront and reduces the back-and-forth that delays approval.
- Protects the audit trail. Five years from now, when FHWA or your state DOT audits the project, the spec sheet is the reference document that proves installed hardware matches what was approved.
The NEVI Spec Sheet: Field by Field
Section 1: Power Output
This is where most vendor claims collapse under scrutiny.
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Per-port simultaneous output | Written guarantee: 150 kW sustained per port when all ports active | "300 kW cabinet" with no per-port guarantee |
| Power architecture | Load-sharing diagram showing power distribution under concurrent load | No diagram, or diagram shows dynamic sharing below 150 kW per port |
| Voltage range | 200–1000 V DC operating range | Narrower range that excludes heavy-duty vehicle platforms |
| Efficiency | ≥95% at rated load | No efficiency data, or "typical" without test conditions |
The power-sharing trap. A vendor quotes a 480 kW cabinet with four ports and implies each port delivers 120 kW. Under NEVI, that fails. Every port must independently sustain 150 kW. Request a written per-port guarantee and a load-sharing diagram. If the vendor cannot provide both, the charger does not meet the NEVI minimum — regardless of what the cabinet label says.
Section 2: Connector Standards
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| CCS connector | CCS1 on every DC port | CCS2 (European standard) instead of CCS1 |
| NACS connector | NACS available on every DC port as of late 2024 | "NACS-ready" without physical connector |
| Connector rating | 500 A continuous with liquid cooling for high-power ports | 250 A limit on a "fast charger" port |
| Cable management | Retractable or assisted cable management | Free-hanging cables that drag on the ground |
Section 3: Certification Scope
Certification must be specific, current, and verifiable.
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| UL 2202 file number | Exact model number matches UL Product iQ entry | Family listing, related model, or pending status |
| ETL control number | Intertek directory entry for exact model | Same model covered under a different brand's listing |
| Edition of standard | Current edition of UL 2202 or UL 2594 | Outdated edition that predates NEVI requirements |
| Conditions of acceptability | Full listing scope including voltage, current, temperature range | "See datasheet" without file number |
How to verify: Go to UL Product iQ, enter the file number, and confirm the model name in the database matches the model name in the proposal exactly. Vendors sometimes cite a related model or a family listing that does not cover the specific configuration being sold. For AC supply equipment, the relevant standard is UL 2594. For connectors, cables, and inlets, it is UL 2251.
Section 4: Buy America Documentation
Buy America is the single most common reason NEVI applications fail. The spec sheet must require documentary evidence, not assurances.
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic content certificate | Model-specific, tied to production run | Generic corporate letter |
| Bill of materials | Component-level list with costs and countries of origin | "Major components U.S.-made" without detail |
| Final assembly address | Specific U.S. facility address and assembly process description | "Assembled in USA" without address |
| Domestic content percentage | ≥55% of total component cost calculated per BABA rules | Percentage without calculation methodology |
| Waiver status | Explicit statement of whether any FHWA waiver is relied upon | Silence on waiver status |
What good documentation looks like. A compliant vendor provides: (1) a domestic content certificate naming the exact model and production run, (2) a BOM with component costs and origin countries, (3) the U.S. assembly facility address, and (4) a statement of whether any waiver applies. If any of these are missing, the Buy America claim is incomplete. For the full documentation framework, see our article on Buy America compliant EV charger manufacturers.
Section 5: Data and Network Protocol
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| OCPP version | OCPP 1.6J minimum, 2.0.1 preferred | Proprietary protocol with "OCPP adapter" |
| Real-time API | Open API with documented endpoints for availability, pricing, session data | "API available on request" with no documentation |
| Network roaming | OCPI compatibility or equivalent roaming protocol | Roaming only through vendor's proprietary network |
| Payment integration | Credit card, mobile (Apple Pay / Google Pay), RFID without membership requirement | Payment only through vendor's app |
Section 6: Physical and Environmental
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure rating | IP54 minimum for outdoor, IP55 preferred | IP20 indoor rating for outdoor installation |
| Operating temperature | -30°C to +50°C with no derating | Derating above 40°C |
| Noise level | <65 dB at 1 meter for residential or retail-adjacent sites | No acoustic data |
| Dimensions and weight | Mounting requirements, clearance zones | "Compact design" without dimensions |
| Display | Outdoor-readable, anti-glare, minimum 7-inch for user interface | Indoor-only display brightness rating |
Section 7: Warranty and Service
| Field | What to Require | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty term | Minimum 2 years parts and labor, 5 years preferred | 1 year or "parts only" |
| Power module warranty | Separate, longer warranty for power modules | No separate module warranty |
| Mean time to repair | Written commitment in hours, not "as soon as possible" | No MTTR commitment |
| Spare parts availability | 10-year availability guarantee with named inventory location | "Subject to availability" |
| Service network | Named service partners or factory-direct coverage in your region | No local or regional coverage |
How to Use This Spec Sheet in Procurement
Step 1: Attach It to Your RFP
Send the blank spec sheet with every RFP. Require vendors to complete every field. Blank fields, "see datasheet" responses, or "TBD" entries are disqualifying. For the broader RFP structure, our EV charger RFP template provides the evaluation criteria and submission format.
Step 2: Cross-Reference Vendor Claims Against Documents
When a vendor returns a completed spec sheet, verify the claims independently:
- UL/ETL file number → check in UL Product iQ or Intertek directory
- Buy America percentage → request the BOM calculation
- Per-port output → request the load-sharing diagram
- Uptime history → request reference deployments with contact information
Our guide to verifying NEVI eligibility claims provides the full verification framework for each pillar.
Step 3: Use Completed Spec Sheets to Compare Vendors
Once you have two or three completed spec sheets, comparison becomes objective. The vendor who provides a model-specific UL file number, a detailed BOM, and a written per-port power guarantee has demonstrated compliance maturity. The vendor who provides a marketing brochure has not.
Step 4: Anchor the Grant Application
Attach the winning vendor's completed spec sheet to your NEVI application. It serves as evidence that hardware selection was conducted with due diligence and that the proposed equipment meets federal minimums. This reduces reviewer questions and accelerates the approval timeline.
Common Spec Sheet Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Accepting a datasheet instead of a completed spec sheet | No compliance evidence; audit risk |
| Allowing "peak" power instead of per-port simultaneous output | Hardware fails NEVI 150 kW test |
| Accepting a family UL listing | Installed model not certified; NEC violation |
| Omitting the BOM from Buy America documentation | Application rejected or delayed |
| Leaving network protocol unspecified | Vendor locks you into proprietary CMS |
| No MTTR or spare parts commitment | Uptime SLA unenforceable |
FBK POWER Custom Specification Support
FBK POWER provides model-specific UL and ETL file numbers, detailed datasheets, and technical documentation that supports NEVI application review. For projects requiring U.S. assembly and domestic content documentation, we work with buyers to confirm the compliance pathway for their specific state solicitation.
Our Split-Type DC Charging Cabinet supports modular configurations that satisfy NEVI's per-port power requirements, and we provide load-sharing diagrams, certification documentation, and BOM details upon request.
Conclusion
A NEVI-compliant spec sheet is not paperwork. It is the filter that separates vendors who understand federal requirements from those who are hoping you will not check. The buyers who build successful federally funded charging sites treat the spec sheet as the first compliance gate — before price negotiations, before contract signatures, and before the grant application is submitted.
Vendors who complete a rigorous spec sheet accurately have earned your time. Vendors who hedge, omit, or deflect have told you everything you need to know.
Contact FBK POWER to request a completed spec sheet for your project requirements, or request a quote for DC fast charging hardware with full documentation support.
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This article is for general guidance only. NEVI requirements are administered by the Federal Highway Administration and interpreted by individual state DOTs. Always verify current requirements with your state program office before submitting an application.
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