Chroma Adds GB/T 27930 Charge Playback to Its PowerPro 5 Platform

Chroma has added a charge playback function to its PowerPro 5 test software, enabling engineers to replay Controller Area Network communication data captured from real charging sessions through the Chroma 8000 test system.

What Happened

The new GB/T 27930-compliant function reproduces recorded charging sessions on the bench for validation and debugging. According to Chroma, chargers and vehicles built to the same charging standard can still fail to complete a session because each side may interpret the protocol differently—a charger that works with one automaker's vehicles can stall on another's. Engineers traditionally had to capture communication data during these abnormal events and work backward through large logs, a process described as slow and dependent on individual experience. The playback function allows engineers to import captured data from failed charging events, recreate those scenarios in the lab, and validate fixes once applied. It supports .blf, .asc, .txt, and .csv formats so existing communication logs can be reused rather than recaptured.

Why It Matters

The automotive industry is working toward interoperability across charging standards, but protocol interpretation differences continue to create real-world compatibility issues between vehicles and chargers. For engineers debugging these failures, the ability to replay captured CAN data in a controlled lab environment shortens analysis cycles and reduces reliance on individual expertise. Chroma positions the captured data as the foundation for a virtual database of EVs and charging equipment, potentially allowing teams to build libraries of charging scenarios that reduce dependence on physical hardware for each test iteration.

The Bottom Line

Chroma's charge playback function adds diagnostic capability to its PowerPro 5 platform by letting engineers work with real-world CAN communication captures rather than relying solely on live testing or manual log analysis.