ISO 15118-3:2015 specifies the requirements of the physical and data link layer for a high-level communication, directly between battery electric vehicles (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), termed as EV (electric vehicle) [ISO-1], based on a wired communication technology and the fixed electrical charging installation [Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)] used in addition to the basic signalling, as defined in [IEC-1].

It covers the overall information exchange between all actors involved in the electrical energy exchange. ISO 15118 (all parts) is applicable for manually connected conductive charging.

Only "[IEC-1] modes 3 and 4" EVSEs, with a high-level communication module, are covered by this part of ISO 15118.