VEC Implementation Guidelines

The VDA recommendation 4968 / prostep ivip recommendation PSI21 “Vehicle Electric Container (VEC)” defines an information model, a data dictionary, a XML schema and a RDF onthology derived from and compliant to the model.The intention of the model was to cover a wide range of use cases and application scenarios. For this reason the specification had to be kept generic in some degree and in some aspects. However, for specific scenarios and / or use cases a more detailed description on “how the different pieces fit together” is possible.

To avoid dialects in the different VEC implementations, further guidelines or recommendations are necessary. This collection of implementation guidelines contributes to the unambiguous interpretation of the VEC standard. For various wiring harness definition or electrical system aspects and scenarios the correct instantiation is shown and specific hints for correct usage are given.

Contributing and Proposals

If you find any bugs in the implementation guidelines or if you have a request for a specific topic, or if you would like to contribute your own tutorials please drop us an issue on the GitHub Issue Tracker. For more information please read our “Contribution Guideline”.

Additional Resources

Currently Under Review

The following table contains pages currently under review.
TitleLatest Content Addition / CommitCreatedChanged
Product Definition of a Harness#1036: Content of a HarnessDescription
Latest Commit: Clarified some passages.
2022-09-012026-01-23
Placements and DimensionsClarified semantic difference between SegmentLocation and NodeLocation.
Latest Commit: Clarfied difference between Node- & SegmentLocation. (#935)
2019-03-112025-12-22
Architectural Layer#575: Extended Architectural Layer with transition to system schematic.
Latest Commit: Added "Transition to System Schematic" to "Architectural Layer Guideline" (#575)
2025-11-022025-11-06
Harness (KBL/VEC Mapping)Started Implementation Guideline for Mapping a Harness in the VEC
Latest Commit: Added paragraph about variant management. (#1142)
2025-02-132025-08-26

Latest Changes

The following table contains lately changed pages, sorted descending by last change.
TitleLatest Content Addition / CommitCreatedChanged
Files, Partitioning, Sizing & Packaging (XML)#1144: Added recommendation for file extension and IANA Media Types of VEC files.
Latest Commit: Removed review note as decided in meeting 2026-01-16
2024-03-142026-01-23
Instances of Components#484: Added example for PartSubstitutionSpecification
Latest Commit: Removed review note as decided in meeting 2026-01-16
2022-10-072026-01-23
Topological Protection Requirements#1138: Added guideline for topology zone requirements.
Latest Commit: Removed review note as decided in meeting 2026-01-16
2025-12-082026-01-23
Product Definition of a Harness#1036: Content of a HarnessDescription
Latest Commit: Clarified some passages.
2022-09-012026-01-23
Placements and DimensionsClarified semantic difference between SegmentLocation and NodeLocation.
Latest Commit: Clarfied difference between Node- & SegmentLocation. (#935)
2019-03-112025-12-22
Internal Connectivity#915: New generic concept for E/E component with internal connectivity.
Latest Commit: Removed review annotations.
2025-07-082025-12-08
Connectors#957: Improved cavity mapping for modular connectors.
Latest Commit: Removed review annotations.
2018-11-292025-12-08
Wires#1143: Adapted to structural changes / deprecations of WireElement / WireElementSpecificaiton relations in VEC version 2.2.0
Latest Commit: Removed review annotations.
2019-03-072025-12-08
RoutingKBLFRM-1256: Routing Variants in the VEC
Latest Commit: Removed review annotations.
2024-12-232025-12-08
Architectural Layer#575: Extended Architectural Layer with transition to system schematic.
Latest Commit: Added "Transition to System Schematic" to "Architectural Layer Guideline" (#575)
2025-11-022025-11-06

Table of Content