What Should I Know About Electric Car Charging Cables and Plugs?
As an Electric Vehicle (EV) owner, you should know what type of charging cable and plug to use in every situation. EV manufacturers have adapted charging accessories to different safety standards, regulations, and designs around the world, leading to the creation of numerous cables and plugs.
Whether you want to learn about EV charging in general or want to stay updated with the latest trends, this article is for you. Here we explain everything about the car charging cord, the basics of electric car charging plugs, different EV plugs available, and other interesting facts on the subject.
Types of Electric Car Chargers
There are several types of chargers for electric cars. These are usually set into categories that overlap themselves, these are the following:
- Slow/fast charging and Rapid charging.
- AC charging and DC charging.
- Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 EV charging.
Slow/fast charging is the same as AC charging and it is also categorized as Level 1 and Level 2 EV charging. Rapid charging is the same as DC charging, being categorized as Level 3 EV charging. In this section we explain each of these electric vehicle charging types:
Figure 2: AC/DC EV charging
Slow and Fast Charging
Slow charging or Level 1 EV charging is one of the main AC electric vehicle charger types, featuring a slow power rate of around 1 kW, which takes 40 to 50 hours to fully charge an EV battery. Fast charging or Level 2 EV charging is another of the AC electric car charging types, featuring a power rate of 7 kW up to 19 kW, taking only 4 to 10 hours to fully charge an EV battery.
During AC charging, the Chargerpoint or EV charger is powered with Alternating Current (AC). The power is converted from AC to DC directly at the on-board EV charger installed on the vehicle. This power is then delivered to the EV battery to recharge it.
AC chargers usually feature the Type 1 connector in America or the Type 2 connector in Europe, these are the most popular ones and are considered the standard in these two continents. There are other chargers used in China or for exclusive EVs like the Tesla ones around the world.
Rapid Charging
Rapid charging or DC charging is exclusively done over DC power, this charging type is also known as Level 3 EV charging or DC Fast Charging (DCFC). A Rapid charger features a high power rate going from 50 kW up to 350 kW, easily charging the full battery of an electric vehicle in 20 minutes to 1 hour.
When an EV is being recharged over a Rapid charger, the power is always converted from AC to DC externally. These electric car chargers types feature a high-capacity power transformer to convert and inject a high direct current (DC) directly to the EV battery. The maximum current is limited by the Battery Management System (BMS), a safety system placed in an EV to protect the Lithium-Ion battery.
DC chargers feature different electric car charger connector types. In Japan and for certain imported EVs, the standard is the CHAdeMO connector, but the Charging Combo System (CCS) is rapidly becoming the norm for DC charging. The CCS is a charging system that combines AC and DC connectors, featuring either a Type 1 (America) or a Type 2 (Europe) connector for AC with its respective DC pins.
What Are The Charging Cables For Charging Electric Cars?
EV charging cables are accessories used to recharge an electric car battery, used by connecting it directly to an electric outlet or an EV charging station. An EV charging cable length goes from 16 – 18 ft. for conventional options or up to 25 ft. in particular cases, they also feature different current capacities, different EV plugs, and are divided into the following categories:
Charging cables going from Mode 1 to 3 are used for AC charging, while a Mode 4 electric car cord is used for DC charging. In the next section, we will explain in detail these categories.
Charging Cable Specifications
Mode 1 Charging Cable
Figure 1: Mode 1 charging cable
The mode 1 charging cable is the most basic and simple option used to charge a vehicle. It is likely you already own one since most EV manufacturers issue one of these with the electric vehicle. These electric charging cables do not include communication or control protocols, they simply connect to the EV on one side and to the electrical outlet on the other, delivering up to 2.3 kW.
Mode 2 Charging Cable
Figure 2: Mode 2 charging cable
Mode 2 charging cables are slightly more complex and advanced than Mode 1 charging cables. A Mode 2 electric car charging cord features electrical safety systems, a robust build, and can establish a control communication protocol with the EV using an embedded electronic device.
Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers can be designed as Mode 2 charging cables. This means that you might find Mode 2 charging cables featuring a very slow power rate of 2.3 kW designed for Level 1 EV charging, but also Mode 2 charging cables that go up to 9.6 kW for residential applications, like the Leaf charging cord issued with the Nissan EV.
Mode 3 Charging Cable
Figure 3: Mode 3 charging cable
A Mode 3 EV charging cord is commonly used for Level 2 public EV charging stations. Some are tethered to the EVSE, while others require you to connect your Mode 3 charging cable. Mode 3 charging cables can withstand the 92 amps delivered by 22kW level 2 EV chargers, and protect against electroshocks.
The design of the Mode 3 charging cable allows for an EVSE to communicate and control the EV, delivering Smart features. This EV cord is usually issued with residential EV charging stations, but it can also be bought separately. An untethered cable comes with an EV plug on both ends, while a tethered one like the Mustang Mach e charging cord issued with the Ford vehicle is tethered to the EVSE.
Mode 4 Charging Cable
Figure 4: Mode 3 charging cable
The Mode 4 EV power cable is the most advanced type of cable, exclusively used for DC charging. These charging cables are designed to withstand 480V up to 1,000V that some DC Fast-Chargers can deliver and up to 400 amps. A few residential EV chargers are being designed for DC charging, also using these types of charging cables.
Are electric car charging plugs universal?
Firstly, when talking about EV connectors, it’s essential to understand that there is a connector – or sometimes called a plug – on the vehicle (which acts like a socket) and a connector on the charging point itself (think of it as a plug). In order for your EV to charge, both connectors need to match (see image below).
Electric car charging plugs are not universal, with there being two distinct connectors – Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 2 EV Connectors (both on the EV and the charging cable)
There are also three different speeds to charge your electric vehicle – slow, fast and Rapid.
Slow chargers typically refer to three-pin plug chargers, which charge at about 2.3kW and use a domestic household 13 Amp three-pin plug to charge. This usually takes about 12-14 hours to fully charge a Nissan Leaf, and a Tesla Model 3 will take, on average, 33 hours. In addition to the sluggish charging speed, 3-pin charging can also be dangerous and is therefore only recommended for emergency use. To read more about 3-pin plug charging, please feel free to read our blog here.
Fast chargers are either dedicated home charging points or public charging points, which you would find in car parks and supermarkets. Fast chargers have a rating of either 7kW or 22kW. Please note that whilst 22kW home EV chargers are available, you might not be able to take advantage of this charging speed. Your car will need to accept 22kW, and your home will need a three-phase electricity supply. To read more about 7kW and 22kW EV home chargers, please click here.
Rapid chargers are found near motorway service stations and have a charging rate of up to 50kW. Ultra-Rapid charging infrastructure is also being introduced, whereby you can charge over 100kW. Rapid and Ultra-Rapid chargers are the quickest way to charge. However, you cn’t get a Rapid or ultra-Rapid EV charger installed at home.
If you want to understand slow, fast, and Rapid chargers in more depth, please take a look at our blog post here.
There are also two different electrical currents to charge your electric vehicle, either an AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current). The UK domestic power supply is delivered in Alternating Current (AC); however, EV batteries need Direct Current (DC) for charging. In terms of fast charging, the onboard charger in an EV converts AC to DC for safe battery recharging, and for Rapid charging (or ultra-Rapid), the DC connection bypasses your car’s onboard charger and supplies DC straight into the battery, charging quicker.
It’s important to know that some electric vehicles have two charging connector sockets, in the form of DC and AC, and some have just one single connector socket, in the form of AC. There are also two different connectors for each current; type 1 and type 2 for AC connectors and CHAdeMO and CCS for DC connectors.
So, using this information, let’s dive into the different types of connectors for the different electrical currents…
Type 1 Connector (Fast Charging) – Type 1 connectors have a 5-pin design and only work with single-phase electricity supplies. They have a maximum charging rate of 7.4kW. Type 1 is not as common as Type 2 in the UK and is usually the standard in the Asian, American and Japanese markets. Some electric vehicles still have Type 1 as standard, such as Citroen C-Zero, Ford Focus Electric, and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. However, Type 1 connectors are usually found on older models of electric vehicles in Europe.
Type 1’s do not have any locking mechanisms.
Below is a list of electric vehicle models in the UK that utilise the type 1 socket:
It’s always worth checking your manufacturer guide to find out which connector type your EV has, as the new Nissan Leaf comes with a Type 2, whereas older models are fitted with a Type 1.
It’s important to note that some dedicated home electric vehicle chargers and public charge points do not support Type 1 connectors in the UK. However, if you are wanting a dedicated charging point with a Type 2 port and you have one of the above vehicles, you can always purchase a Type 1 to Type 2 EV Cable.
Type 1 Connector
A Type 2 connector is the most common connector type in Europe and has become the standard for many new and high-capacity EVs. Whilst Type 1 has five connection points, Type 2 has a 7-pin design. Unlike Type 1, Type 2 connectors can work with both a single and a three-phase electricity supply. Consequently, Type 2 connectors can charge up to 22kW, although for your electric vehicles to take advantage of this rate, they would have to have a charging capability of 22kW.
Type 2 connectors have an inbuilt locking mechanism and are suitable for both home and public fast EV charging. Most public charging stations are equipped with a Type 2 charging cable. However, if you have a Type 1 connection, you can invest in an adaptor.
Below is a list of car manufacturers that typically fit their EVs with Type 2 connectors:
EV charging plug standards
Charging from a normal socket outlet, like the widely used Schuko standard, is possible with Mode 1 or Mode 2 charging cables. It should be noted that Mode 1 charging is outlawed in many countries. These methods should only be used as a temporary solution, because charging is much slower and there is a risk of overheating the socket.
Normal AC charging
The recommended method is to use a Mode 3 Smart charging device for day-to-day charging. With a proper AC charging device charging is faster and safer, and it enables Smart features like load management and payments.
Type 2
Type 2 is the de jure charging plug standard chosen by the European Union. Most European AC charging devices have a Type 2 plug.
Along this standard, EV drivers can be certain that a socket in each public charging device is suitable for their car and conductor. Compatible devices are safe and future-proof. Charging device does not start the charging event until car is plugged in correctly. Type 2 charging devices enable even 63 kW power for charging, which will be an important feature already in the near future.
DC fast charging
For fast charging, there are two competing Mode 4 charging standards. The DC fast charging devices are considerably costlier, so it makes sense to consider what plug type to use. However, some fast chargers may include several plugs, also the AC Type 2 plug for normal or AC fast charging.
CCS Combo
The European DC fast charging standard CCS was chosen as the de jure standard by the European Union. CCS plugs can be found in for example Volkswagen and BMW electric cars.
CHAdeMO
The Japanese CHAdeMO standard is common in Nissan and Mitsubishi electric cars. Even though it is not an official standard in the EU, it can be commonly found almost everywhere, mainly because the Japanese EV’s have been successful in the early phases of the industry.
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Design Notes
SAE J1772 (J plug) is a 5-pin connector. When attached to a standard home power socket, it supports single-phase AC charging at 1.44 kW. When installed on a higher-speed EV charging stations it can reach 19.2 kW. The J plug carries single-phase AC power on two conductors, signalling on two additional conducts, and a protective earth connection on the fifth conductor.
Type 2 Mennekes is a 7-pin connector design that carries single-phase or three-phase AC power, which allows vehicles to charge at up to 43 kW (although many Type 2 chargers max at 22 kW or less. Similar to the J plug, it features two pins for signalling pre-insertion and post-insertion, and has a protective earth, a neutral, and three conductors for the three AC phases.
CCS accommodates both AC and high-speed DC charging. Combo 1, used in the North American market (and some Asian countries) combines a Type 1 J1772 AC connector with two large DC conductors. Combo 2, used in the European market, combines a Mennekes connector with two large DC conductors.
ITT Cannon’s CCS 1 DC Fast Charging connector designed to SAE J1772 standards provides up to 150A continuous charging and power up to 150kW. Various amperage and cable length options make it suitable for a wide variety of customer applications.
CHAdeMO, developed primarily for fast-charging applications, can deliver up to 400 kW. Primarily used in Japan, despite Japanese automakers backing a proposal for global use in 2010, it was the first standard that set out to provide DC fast charging to EVs regardless of manufacturer. It features CAN bus pins for communication between vehicle and charger. A CHAdeMo 3.0 standard (ChaoJi) has been in development since 2018. It features a completely new 7-pin connector design, developed in partnership with the Standardization Administration of China. ChaoJi uses liquid-cooled cabling to reach, ideally, charging rates up to 900 kW, while running at 1.5 kV and delivering a full 600 amps.
The name CHAdeMO, short for “CHArge de MOve”, derives from a Japanese phrase that translates to English as “How about a cup of tea?”, referring to the time it would take to charge a car.
Tesla designed its own charging connector as part of its Supercharger network. In Europe, Tesla’s vehicles have Type 2 or CCS connectors. However, the company instituted its own charge point standard in the U.S. that supports AC single and three phase charging, as well as high-speed DC charging available from Tesla Supercharger stalls. The company’s latest chargers can deliver up to 250 kW to suitably equipped vehicles.
iConnector’s EU AC 32A Plug has a rated voltage of 250/440V AC and a rated current of 16A/32A 1 or 3 Phrase.
GB/T 20234.3 standard, used only in China, covers both single-phase AC and DC fast charging. Rated to run at up to 1,000V DC and 250 amps, it provides charging speeds up to 250 kW.