Oliver Haslam on May 8, 2024, 3:47 pm

Matter 1.3 Specification Released: EV Charging Support, Water & Energy Management, More

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has announced the new Matter 1.3 specification with support for new device makers and platforms.

Matter is a protocol that can allow smart home accessories and devices to work across different smart home systems including Apple’s HomeKit and others.

There are a number of changes in the new Matter 1.3 specification including support for electric vehicle chargers, kitchen and laundry appliances, TVs, and water management devices.

Electric Vehicle Charging — Matter 1.3’s energy features also enable new energy-centric devices, the first of which is Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). This enables EV charging equipment manufacturers to present a consumer-friendly way to control how and when they charge their vehicles. It features the ability to manually start or stop charging, adjust the charging rate, or specify how many miles of range to be added by a set departure time, leaving the charging station to automatically optimize the charging to happen at the cheapest and lowest carbon times.

Other changes include support for devices that can detect freezing and leaking of water, while water valves are also part of the new spec. TVs with improved searching functions as well as interactivity via TV apps are also supported, too.

Water Management — Support for leak and freeze detectors, rain sensors, and controllable water valves provide homeowners with enhanced monitoring, management, and protection over water in and around their homes.

While the specification has been announced there will still likely be a delay before we start to see new devices and accessories that can take advantage of it. With that in mind, we’d expect to see more information arrive later this year with many companies likely to aim for CES in January 2025 when announcing new products.