EV charging connector types you should know about
While the first electric vehicles (EVs) were created in 1884, there is a major push for more EV adoption within the last couple of years than ever before.
President Biden is requiring that at least 50% of all vehicle sales consist of electric vehicles. A majority of automotive executives (52% of the 1,100 surveyed), according to a 2021 KPMG report, believe this goal is achievable.
The hurtle most are seeing as the first to overcome? Accessible, fast and reliable charging stations. This article will explore the differences among charging connectors and how to choose the EV connector that’s best for you.
EV charging connectors
While all EVs offer lower or zero pollution emissions to the environment, not all are created the same. There are some variations among charging connectors that depend on several factors, from the size and shape to the charging speed and setup.
Charging your EV via a charging station is not dissimilar to using a charger for your phone. Instead of a charging box that connects to any plug found in the house, EVs use a charging station you can set up in your garage or outside your home (depending on where you park your car).
Once the charging station is installed by an electrician or plugged into the voltage-appropriate outlet, all you have to do is connect to your car and wait for it to charge.
Types of charging connectors
Beyond the standard charger, your vehicle comes with, you should consider upgrading chargers, portable chargers and charging types you’re likely to find in public. Because not every charger is compatible with each other, we’ve broken down the different types of chargers and their functions. To follow, we will cover the types of EV charging connectors available for your vehicle.
The 15 amp, 125v charger known as NEMA 5-15 is the standard charging plug you’d most likely have in your home. It’s the same plug used for your large appliances such as the refrigerator or washing machine. The NEMA 5-20 is very similar but is usually found in public spaces that conserve energy such as office parking garages.
Level 1 chargers are the slowest at a rate of four to five miles per hour. It’s best for those who can plug their car in and leave it overnight to recharge, don’t drive often and have ample time available. The equipment that comes with the typical EV will have a Level 1 charger with it.
What are Type 1 and Type 2 charging plugs, and how do they differ from NACS?
While the industry bodies like CharIN consider the Combined Charging System (CCS) as offering the best features, it’s worth noting that there isn’t one CCS standard, but actually two. The CCS1, or Combo 1, is mainly used in the United States. It combines a J1772 (Type 1) connector with two additional direct current (DC) contacts to allow high-power DC fast charging.
The CCS2, or Combo 2, which is the plug Europe (and other regions) uses, features a Type 2 connector and two DC contacts. The main advantage of the Type 2 connector is that it can supply three-phase AC current to the cars, thus increasing the power capability. Still, in a Combo 2 plug, the three-phase connectors are missing on the DC fast charger side, although the car still has them to allow non-CCS AC charging.
Many Tesla owners mocked the CCS plug for being bulky, especially compared to Tesla’s NACS. Intriguingly, Tesla still uses the CCS protocols for communications and plug charge features in newer vehicles. This allows Tesla owners to charge at CCS stations using an adapter. Older cars need a hardware retrofit to support the CCS protocol and charging at third-party stations.
Like the CCS2 plug, the NACS plug only has the communication and protective earth pins alongside the two DC contacts. Tesla designed the charging port on its vehicles to accept both DC and AC charging using the same pins, which makes the NACS plug more compact. Starting in 2025, more carmakers will use NACS instead of CCS in the US. So far, Ford, GM, Rivian, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Polestar have announced adopting the NACS standard. Other carmakers, including Stellantis, Volkswagen, and Hyundai-Kia, are still unsure about the NACS benefits but are evaluating a switch.
What are Level-1, Level-2, and Level-3 charging, and which is better?
If you own an electric vehicle or plan to buy one, chances are you’ve heard of Level 1, Level 2, and even Level 3 charging. These terms apply to Tesla and other brands and appear to be associated with charging speeds. The higher the charging level, the faster your car will charge. While this is mostly true, the levels actually relate to the voltage input.
Both Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are AC chargers because they transfer alternative current to the vehicles. The car’s onboard AC charger then converts the voltage (120 volts or 240 volts) to whatever voltage it needs (usually 400V or 800V). What people like to call Level-3 chargers, on the other hand, use direct current (DC) to charge your EV. Full disclosure: there are no Level-3 chargers, despite being a popular term describing DC fast charging. I’ll explain why that is below, but first, let’s start with. the beginning.
Level 1 Charging
Level-1 chargers plug into a regular household receptacle and are thus fed with 120 volts. The output current is limited to 10 or 12 amps because they are designed to be used on a 15- or 20-amp circuit along with other electric appliances. Although it can be used to charge an EV (it could take days, depending on the battery capacity), the low-current capability earned it the name of trickle charging.
The Level-1 chargers are best suited for plug-in hybrids because their batteries are small. Keep in mind that, given the low current, they will not provide enough power to preheat or precool the cabin in extreme temperatures while connected to the grid. Nevertheless, automakers almost always include a Level-1 charger with their EVs because it’s small, cheap, and can be plugged in almost anywhere.
If you’re lucky, your EV comes with a portable charger that supports both Level-1 and Level-2 chargers via interchangeable pigtail cords. The Tesla Mobile connector is such a device, but other carmakers like Ford offer something similar. Tesla Mobile connector has a maximum rating of 32 amps when connected to a 40-amp circuit, which is enough for most owners.
If you’re shopping for a Level-1 charger, you cannot go wrong with the Lectron NEMA 5-15 Level 1 EV Charger, one of the best-rated chargers of this type on Amazon. It’s a portable charger with a 21-foot cable and advanced protection features that can replace the factory-issued charger.
If you want more flexibility, the Lectron Leve 1/Level 2 portable charger supports 120-volt and 240-volt connections thanks to the interchangeable plugs. It offers up to 12 amps when plugged into a NEMA 5-15 receptacle for Level-1 charging and can go as high as 32 amps on a NEMA 14-50 connection.
Level 2 Charging
You’ve seen what Level-1 chargers can and (mostly) can’t do due to the limitation of the 120-volt circuit. Level-2 chargers, on the other hand, plug into a 240-volt outlet or are hardwired to such circuits. If your house has a 240-volt connection for appliances like clothes dryers, electric ovens, or air conditioners, you’re all set. Mostly. That’s because the voltage is not everything, and Level-2 chargers can deliver anything between 12 and 64 amps. The real question: does your electric circuit support such high currents? The answer: it’s best to consult with an authorized electrician.
As implied above, Level-2 chargers offer the best home charging solution for your electric vehicle: the highest AC charging speeds, adding 5-60 miles of range per hour to your EV, depending on the battery capacity and the power supported by your 240-volt connection. Level 2 chargers can deliver 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48, or 64 amps, and the more intelligent of them can throttle down to lower currents to accommodate less robust circuits.
Every EV owner should have a Level-2 charger, be it a wall connector or a portable solution. If you have a dedicated 240-volt circuit with enough power capabilities, it’s best to install a wired charger matching the power available. If you opt for a pluggable charger, you need to take into account the various plugs that exist, depending on the amperage they support. Tesla lists no less than seven Level-2 adapters, with amperage between 20 amps and 50 amps.
If you’re looking for a Level-2 portable charger, the Lectron offers a NEMA 14-50 charger with up to 32 amps for 319. It has a 21-foot cable for maximum convenience. Thanks to the J1772 connector, it is compatible with all electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on the market, except Tesla.
Autel produces some of the best Level 2 wall charges on the market. The MaxiCharge Home EV charger can charge your EV in a jiffy, thanks to its 50-amp capability. It also offers remote control features via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and has a 25-foot cable, for 599.
A cheaper solution (399) from the same vendor is the Smart EV Charger, which offers the same features, but only 32 amps over a NEMA 6-50 plug. This is a cheaper 50-amp connection with only one phase that older buildings might still have.
All the above chargers are suitable for non-Tesla electric vehicles but can be used with a Tesla via a J1772/NACS adapter. Still, Tesla owners shouldn’t settle for anything other than a Tesla wall charger. It can deliver up to 48 amps and supports variable amperage, with available configurations between 12 amps and 48 amps.
DC fast charging
Fast-charging connector, also known as the DC connector (GB/T 20234.3), is a nine-pin connector that can provide a maximum charging power of 237.5 kW. The charging power is limited by the vehicle’s on-board charger, which is usually significantly less than the maximum capacity of the connector. This connector is commonly used in public charging stations and can charge an electric vehicle in less than an hour. The DC connector has a higher voltage and current rating than the AC connector, which enables it to deliver faster charging speeds.
The DC charger uses the GB/T 20234.3 connector, which is compatible with Type 2 connectors with an adapter.
GB/T Pinout
The GB/T 20234.2 standard defines a seven pinouts for AC EV charger:
- CC (Charging Confirmation): Pre-insertion signaling, indicating power availability for charging.
- CP (Control Pilot): Post-insertion signaling, providing charging parameters such as voltage, current, and mode.
- PE (Protective Earth): Full-current protective earthing system with 6mm diameter, protecting against electrical faults and shocks.
- N (Neutral): Single-phase AC power supply system, providing the return path for the electrical current.
- L1 (Line 1): Single-phase AC power supply system, the primary power source for charging the electric vehicle.
- L2 and L3 (Line 2 and Line 3): Backup contact pinouts, providing an alternative power source in case of primary power source failure.
GB/T 20234.3 standard defines a six-pin interface for the male vehicle connector. Each pin has a specific function, including charging communication, charging confirmation, post-insertion signaling, main DC power, protective earth, and auxiliary DC power.
- S / S- (CAN_H / CAN_L): These pins are used for charging communication. The Communication protocol used is Controller Area Network (CAN). The S pin is the CAN_H line, and the S- pin is the CAN_L line.
- CC1 / CC2: These pins are used for charging confirmation and post-insertion signaling. The charging confirmation signal is sent by the vehicle to the charging equipment, indicating that it is ready to charge. The post-insertion signaling signal is sent by the charging equipment to the vehicle after the plug has been inserted, indicating that the connection is secure.
- DC / DC- (Positive / Negative): These pins are used for the main DC power. The DC pin is the positive terminal, and the DC- pin is the negative terminal. These pins carry the high current required to charge the EV’s battery.
- PE: This pin is used for the protective earth. It is a full-current protective earthing system that provides protection against electrical shock. It connects the vehicle chassis to the earth.
- A / A-: These pins are used for the auxiliary DC power. The A pin is the positive terminal, and the A- pin is the negative terminal. These pins are used to power auxiliary systems in the vehicle, such as lights and air conditioning.
Adapters
The GB/T Plug EV standard is used exclusively in China and is not compatible with other charging standards used in different countries. However, some EV manufacturers have developed adapters that can convert the GB/T Plug EV to other standards used in Europe, North America, and other regions.
The CCS2 or CCS1 standards is compatible with GB/T with special adapter that is used for connecting the charging cable on a CCS charging station. Same history with conversion to CHAdeMO. These adapters cost around 200-500.
Types of EV Charging Connectors: What is Level 2 Charging?
Vehicle owners are often supplied with Level 1 chargers from automobile manufacturers at the time of purchase to use at home with 120v standard outlets. However, upgrading to a Level 2 EV charger is a good and practical investment. A Level 2 charger is like having your own gas pump in your garage, but it is a Smart appliance that charges your vehicle. An added convenience: not only is a Level 2 car charger ready when you need it to be, you can save on electricity by charging during lower rate times.
A Level 2 EV charging station delivers an electrical current from an outlet or hardwired unit to the vehicle via the connector, similar to a standard-issue charger. Level 2 car chargers use a 208-240v power source and a dedicated circuit — potentially up to 60 amps. However, 32 amp charging stations like the EvoCharge EVSE or iEVSE Home Smart EV Charger offer more flexibility and potential costs saving by requiring a lower 40 amp circuit.A Level 1 will deliver around 1.2 kW to the vehicle, while a Level 2 charger ranges from 6.2 to 19.2 kW, with most chargers around 7.6 kW.
How Fast is a Level 2 EV Charger?
While a Level 1 charger will typically get 4 miles of driving range per hour of charge, a Level 2 charger will get an average of 32 miles of driving range per hour of charge. This means that you’re charging up to 8 times faster with a Level 2 charging station. Typical charging time for a Level 2 EV charger is around 3-8 hours from empty to full while the average Level 1 EV charger will take 11-20 hours to fully charge.
Level 2 chargers will deliver 6.2 to 19.2 kW versus the 1.2 kW you get with a Level 1. For a direct comparison, check out this resource to see how fast a Level 2 charger is compared to its counterpart.
When One Might Consider a Level 1
A Level 2 EV charger needs a 240v outlet, which many new homes or new multi-unit homes and building standards require. If you do not have a 240v outlet, a certified electrician can easily install one and the cost can sometimes be offset through local, federal, state or utility companies which offer rebates and financial incentives for the charger, installation, or for charging during lower electric rate times.
Additionally, Level 2 charging stations like the EvoCharge iEVSE Home Smart EV Charger allow you to customize charging schedules with the EvoCharge mobile app to better control charging, lessening your overall cost and making you eligible for further rebates through your municipality so you get faster charging times at a lower cost. The mobile app also provides usage history, multiple vehicle controls, and much more.