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.
Level 1 Charging
Level 1 is the slowest method of charging but is sufficient for drivers who charge overnight and travel 30–40 miles per day. Charging cables usually come with a vehicle and plug into a standard 120–volt AC outlet with no equipment installation required. Level 1 charging works well for charging at home, work or anywhere a standard outlet is available – and when you have sufficient time to charge.
Level 1 charging uses a standard J1772 or Tesla connector that can plug into any EV, either directly, or through an adapter.
Level 1 charging adds about 3.5 – 6.5 miles of driving range per hour of charging time.
Level 2 Charging
Level 2 charging is considerably faster, but requires installing a charging station, also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). EVSE requires a dedicated 240–volt or 208–volt electrical circuit, similar to what is required for a clothes dryer or electric range. Level 2 is found at many public and workplace charging stations, but also in many homes. It uses the same standard connector as Level 1 charging, meaning any EV can plug in at any Level 2 charger.
Level 2 charging uses a standard J1772 or Tesla connector that can plug into any EV, either directly, or through an adapter.
Depending on battery type, charger configuration and circuit capacity, Level 2 charging adds about 14 – 35 miles of range per hour of charging time.
DC Fast Charging
DC fast charging, also called quick charging or supercharging, provides the fastest available fill–up. It requires a 480–volt connection, making DC fast charging unsuitable for home use, and not every EV model is equipped for it. Stations offering DC fast charging are found in shopping centers and often along major travel corridors, allowing EV drivers to charge up quickly and take longer trips.
DC fast charging uses CHAdeMO, CCS or Tesla connector systems. Check with your vehicle manufacturer to determine if your car has fast charging capability and what connector systems are compatible with your EV.
Depending on battery type, charger configuration and circuit capacity, DC fast charging can add up to 100 miles of range in about 30 minutes of charging time.
Type 3
The least common type of electric car charger connector, this features an oval housing and up to seven pins. It’s well protected against the elements by safety shutters, but hasn’t seen much take-up among charging point manufacturers.
Often found on Rapid chargers, and backed by Nissan, Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi, the CHAdeMO 2.0 spec can deliver up to 400kW of DC to your vehicle.
The name comes from a contraction of a Japanese phrase that translates into English as ‘How about a cup of tea?’ referring to the speed of the charging. The connector looks like four circles, with the top and bottom ones containing another four pins each, and it’s also known as a Type 4.
Tesla
Tesla has its own two-pin charging plug, but does not supply it to Europe. In North America, this is what’s installed on Tesla Superchargers, but the company seems to be changing over to the CCS standard.
China, which has the world’s largest electric car fleet, has its own charging connection. This again comes in AC and DC variants, the former with seven pins, and the latter with nine. Its plugs are circular, with a flattened edge, and larger than other types.
You’ll most likely come across.
If you’re in the US, and don’t drive a Tesla, then you’re most likely to come across the CCS version of the Type 2 connector.
It’s becoming standardized across the country for fast charging at the expense of CHAdeMO/Type 4, which is found on the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
If you’re in Europe, you’ll come across Type 2 variants most commonly. even Tesla uses it. Some cars, such as the Leaf, will have two sockets built into them, while others come with a bootful of adapter cables.
It doesn’t matter what connector your EV uses, as long as you can safely attach it to a charger using some combination of cable and adapter.
They’re all different enough to ensure you can never plug the wrong plug into the wrong socket, so there’s no need to worry. You’ll be able to charge your car almost everywhere you go no matter what model you buy.
Every EV Charging Standard and Connector Type Explained
Basem Wasef is an auto journalist, North American Car and Truck of the Year juror, and a member of the Motor Press Guild who has logged thousands of hours in a diverse span of vehicles on some of the world’s most iconic roads and tracks.
In an ideal world, all electric vehicles would plug into the same kind of outlet. EV drivers wouldn’t have to think twice before charging up, and incompatibility would be a thing of the past.
Of course the world is a very different place, making the basic act of pulling up your EV for a charge is a potentially complicated process. While those standards will inevitably shift— after all, modern EVs are still rapidly evolving— here’s a guide to current different charging standards and how to make life with your electric vehicle as streamlined as possible.
EV Charging Levels at a Glance
Electric vehicle charging receptacles come in several forms, just as the home videocassette market saw warring VHS and Betamax formats vying for supremacy. These are still relatively early days for EVs, so what’s hot today may be passé tomorrow. That said, the easiest way to understand current charging standards is to break them down by speed.
Level 1
The most basic (and often excruciatingly slow) charger is a Level 1, or the standard 110/120 volt plug you’ll find in any North American home. While slow, regular outlets are everywhere and available for a slow trickle charge in a pinch— though you’ll only add 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. This typically comes with an EV during purchase.
Level 2
Level 2 chargers run at 240 volts, and can be installed by an electrician with relative ease to existing setups, just like a clothes dryer that runs on electricity. Expect a Level 2 charger to add approximately 25 miles of range per hour.
Level 3
Level 3 is where charging speed gets serious. Also known as DC Fast Chargers, this standard (which encompasses Tesla Superchargers as well) requires a robust, DC (not AC) stream of electricity running in excess of 480 volts and 100 amps.
Because of these massive amounts of oomph, Level 3 units can fully charge a battery in as little as 20 to 30 minutes. Though they’re essentially unheard of in homes, DC chargers are ideal for commercial or retail setups where drivers can gain Rapid battery replenishment so they continue driving lengthy distances without a long wait time.
Where Connectors Come In
All the electrons in the world can’t do a thing for your electric vehicle if it’s not equipped with a matching connector. Here’s a rundown of the major charging connectors you’ll find on virtually every modern electric vehicle.
J1772 is the standard Level 2 charging connector you’ll find on most vehicles. While capable of charging at Level 1 speeds, J1772 chargers are typically running at Level 2 in most residential, commercial, and retail settings.
CHAdeMO is an early form of DC quick charging that was established by a consortium of Japanese carmakers. Short for CHArge de MOve, or “move using charge,” CHAdeMO connectors appear alongside J1772 connectors in order to maximize charging options. However, these chargers have been waning in popularity and are unlikely to hold significant market share in the future.
CCS Type 1 / CCS Type 2 connectors, short for Combined Charging System, enable both AC and DC charging using the same port, offering Level 2 or Level 3 charging via the same connector because it incorporates a J1772 outlet. European and American carmakers have embraced the CCS format.
Tesla uses proprietary connectors that link any Tesla vehicle to Level 3 charging. With over 23,000 Tesla Superchargers in the world, there’s a remarkably robust infrastructure open to those who choose to join Elon’s side. (Ed. note: Tesla is opening up access to its Superchargers for all EVs in late 2021.)
How Adapters Fit Into the Picture
If the conversation about EV charging has gotten uncomfortably complicated, don’t worry: It gets easier to navigate these waters once you’ve established a groundwork for how charging standards work with each other.
While some carmakers have chosen to wall themselves in by their charging standards, adapters can enable two otherwise incompatible connectors to charge a vehicle. However, many of these compatibilities seem to occur without rhyme or reason.
For instance, Tesla’s connectors are primarily proprietary, though CHAdeMO, J1772, and/or CCS adapters can be fitted for alternative charging sources.
However, it doesn’t currently work the other way around at a Tesla Supercharger, which is why you’ll only see Teslas there. Rather than relying on an adapter between, say, CCS and CHAdeMO units, most charging venues instead offer both connectors in order to optimize their use.