As people become more environmentally conscious, the popularity of efficient and environmentally friendly EVs is increasing around the world. However, due to differences in countries/regions, EV connectors that come with EVs are not completely universal, so it is necessary to understand the functions of different types of EV connectors to achieve the best charging effect.
This EV connector guide will fully explain the differences between various EV connections, which will be a good help for EV owners, charger installers, and relevant policymakers who want to understand EV connectors.
EV charging connectors
There are usually 5 types of EV charging connectors, which are: Type 1, Type 2, CCS (Combined Charging System), CHAdeMO and GB/T.
Each type has different appearance, input and output power, and requirements for charging piles. For easy distinction, we divide them into two categories, one is charging through: AC (alternating current), the other is fast charging through DC (direct current). Let's take a look at each one.
SAE J1772 Connector - Type 1 (AC)
The SAE J1772 connector is a charging standard mainly used in North America and Japan, also known as the J plug or Type 1 connector. It has two types, Level 1 and Level 2. We can see 5 small round holes (pins) on the front of the electric charger. These small round holes can provide 80 amps of current at a maximum voltage of 240v and output 19.2KW of power.
It is worth noting that the SAE J1772 EV connector only supports charging through a single-phase power supply and does not have the locking mechanism of the Mennekes connector.
In other words, if there is no locking mechanism, the electric vehicle charger may be suddenly unplugged by someone while your car is charging, resulting in charging termination.
MENNEKES Connector – Type 2 (AC)
The Mennekes connector is also called the Type 2 connector. The biggest difference between it and the Type 1 connector is that the number of pins has increased - from 5 pins to 7 pins. More pins support higher voltage and higher output.
Depending on the design type, if it is single-phase AC, it only supports up to 32A and provides 7.4kW power output, while if it is three-phase AC, fast charging can be achieved, supporting up to 63A and providing 43Kw power output.
In addition, the MENNEKES connector also supports a locking mechanism that the Type 1 electric vehicle charger does not have, which can prevent people from unplugging it during charging, so that we don't have to worry about charging.
CCS Connector - Type 1(AC & DC)
The CCS Type 1 connector is also called CCS Combo 1 or SAE J1772 Combo connector. It can charge electric vehicles with both DC and AC. It adds two pins for DC charging on the basis of the J1772 Type 1 connector.
This charger simplifies the charging process and can charge AC or DC through one interface. When the output current is detected through AC, only the upper half of the port is occupied; if DC charging is detected, all ports are used for output, which is why this electric vehicle connector is also called an electric vehicle combiner.
Because the CCS electric vehicle connector is flexible to use and supports a maximum output power of 350KW, it is widely used in the North American market. It is worth noting that different CCS connectors have different maximum output powers. For example, the Tesla charger can only reach a maximum power output of 250kw.
CCS Connector – Type 2(AC & DC)
CCS Type 2 connector, also known as CCS Combo 2, is a DC fast charging standard popular in Europe. CCS Type 2 connector is equivalent to combining the advantages of CCS Combo 1 and MENNEKES connectors. Therefore, it not only has the ultra-large output power of CCS Combo 1, but also has the locking mechanism of MENNEKES connector.
It also supports single-phase and three-phase power supply. Due to its significant advantages, it has been adopted by automakers such as Volkswagen and BMW. However, one thing is that when using CCS charging stations for fast charging, if the current output exceeds 200 amperes, we need to replace the common charging cable with a liquid-cooled charging cable to improve charging safety and efficiency.
CHAdeMO Connector(AC & DC)
CHAdeMO connector is a high-power DC fast charging standard jointly developed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and several Japanese automakers. It was released earlier than the CCS connector, and its main markets are currently in Japan and some Asian markets.
The CHAdeMO connector supports voltages up to 500V and currents up to 200A. When used with liquid-cooled cables similar to CCS, it can fully charge electric vehicles in a short time.
Compared with other electric vehicle connectors, the CHAdeMO connector has more outstanding advantages, such as supporting bidirectional charging, which can reversely transmit the vehicle's electricity to other household devices.
Moreover, its compatibility is particularly strong and can be widely used to charge electric vehicles of different brands. However, the convenience of the CHAdeMO connector is not as good as the CCS connector.
Although the CHAdeMO connector supports AC charging, it requires an additional interface to be installed, which is undoubtedly a huge problem for most electric vehicles that only have one interface.
GB/T connector(AC & DC)
The GB/T connector is a charging standard developed by China Power Grid Corporation, and its main market is in China. The GB/T connector actually includes the GB/T AC connector and the GB/T DC connector.
The GB/T AC connector provides a power output of up to 7kW, and the GB/T DC connector supports a power output of up to 250 kW. GB/T connectors look similar to European Mennekes (Type 2) connectors, but their functions are different.
TESLA connectors(DC)
Tesla connectors are charging connectors designed by Tesla for its own electric vehicles. Other electric vehicles may have some restrictions. Different countries use different charging standards. The following are the standards used by Tesla chargers in different countries or regions:
North America: Tesla uses a proprietary NACS (North American Charging Standard) standard. This NACS connector supports up to 1000V DC and 400A DC charging capabilities, and integrates AC and DC. Although it is compatible with the hardware and software of the CCS connector, the interface design is different, so it cannot be used in public charging stations in North America.
Europe: Initially, Tesla used its own dedicated connector, but later, due to EU regulations, it could only be gradually changed to an interface compatible with the European Type 2 standard, namely IEC 62196 Type 2.
China: Since entering the Chinese market, Tesla has been using a DC charging interface that complies with the GB/T 20234 standard.
Summary
Through this article, we have systematically realized that there are many types of electric vehicle charging connectors, and each type of electric vehicle connector has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the final analysis, it is because of factors such as the output voltage, wire load capacity, and designed car type in each country that there is no complete unification.
If you are an electric vehicle charging installer, please be sure to understand the local connector standards, as well as relevant policies and regulations before investing.
