Before you invest in an electric vehicle (EV), there are a few things you should research, like what type of EV charger you need.
One of the most important factors, however, is the type of charging connector an EV uses. Here we explain how they differ and where you can use them.
Can all electric vehicles use the same EV charger?
Indeed, plenty of electric vehicles may be charged at home or even at your nearest public charging stations. However, they don’t all use the same connector or plug.
Some can only connect to certain levels of charging stations. Others need adapters to charge at higher power levels, and many have multiple outlets to plug a connector into for charging.
If you are in doubt, Acecharger offers you comprehensive solutions. It is the perfect solution for practically any vehicle, be it hybrid or electric. Should you like to know more about the Ace of EV chargers, check it out here.
Let's examine the key factors that you need to keep in mind when choosing a charger or charging station.
What types of connectors for electric vehicles are there?
Consider that many electric cars use industry standards, with examples such as the J1772 connector. However, others may have their own hardware.
Teslas, for example, use their own plug designed in the United States, although here in Europe they use the CCS2, which is common for most electric vehicles, whatever the brand.
Types of car chargers
Whether you use alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) for charging will affect which connector is used for the connection.
Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations use AC power, and the charging cable that comes with most electric vehicles will connect to these stations without a problem (which happens to be the case of Acecharger). Level 4 fast charging stations, however, use direct current, which requires a different plug with more wires to support the additional electrical charge.
The country in which an electric vehicle has been manufactured also influences the plug it has since it has to be manufactured in accordance with the standards of that country. There are four major markets for electric vehicles: North America, Japan, the EU, and China, all of which use different standards. Acecharger has a presence in all of them, so our charging stations are certified for whatever you may need!
As an example, North America uses the J1772 standard for AC plugs. Most vehicles also come with an adapter that allows them to connect to J1772 charging stations. This means that any electric vehicle manufactured and sold in North America, including Teslas, can use a level 2 or 3 charging station.
There are four types of AC charging plugs and four types of DC charging plugs for electric vehicles, except Tesla in America. Tesla American plugs are built to accept both AC and DC power and come with adapters for use with other charging networks, so they are in their own category and will not be included in the lists below.
Let’s examine the AC power options
For AC power, which is what you get from level 2 and 3 electric vehicle charging stations, there are several types of connectors for an EV charger:
- The J1772 standard, used in North America and Japan
- The Mennekes standard, used in the E.U
- GB/T standard, used in China
- CCS connector
- CCS1 and CCS2
For direct current or DCFC fast charging stations, there are:
- The Combined Charging System (CCS) 1, used in North America
- CHAdeMO, used primarily in Japan, but also available in the US
- CCS 2, used in the EU
- GB/T, used in China
EV CHAdeMO connector
Some DCFC charging stations in European countries like Spain have CHAdeMO sockets, because vehicles from Japanese manufacturers such as Nissan and Mitsubishi still use them.
Unlike CCS designs that combine a J1772 socket with additional pins, vehicles using CHAdeMO for fast charging are required to have two sockets: one for J1772 and one for CHAdeMO. The J1772 socket is used for normal charging (level 2 and level 3), and the CHAdeMO socket is used to connect to DCFC stations (level 4).
However, later generations are said to be doing away with CHAdeMO in favor of different and more widely used fast charging methods such as CCS.
An EV CCS charger combines the AC and DC plug layout into a single connector to carry more power. Standard North American combo connectors combine a J1772 connector with two additional pins to carry direct current. EU combo plugs do the same thing, adding two extra pins to the standard Mennekes plug pin.
In summary: how to know which connector your electric vehicle uses
Knowing the standards used by each country for electric vehicle plugs will allow you to know what type of EV charger you need.
If you are going to buy an electric vehicle in Europe you will probably use a Mennekes plug.
However, if you buy one made in another country, you'll need to check with the manufacturer to find out what standard uses and whether you will have access to the right type of EV charger for that vehicle.
Would you like to have a hassle free experience? Contact Acecharger
If you want to make sure you get the perfect charger, we at Acecharger have the right solution. Our plug and play chargers offer you a simple experience, adapted to your vehicle and perfectly functional.
Our company has the ability to adapt to any customer need. Thus, whether you are a large company or a small distributor, we can offer you technology to charge electric cars of the highest quality. And at an incredible price! Of course, with all the guarantees of your reference market.
We encourage you to take a look at our Acecharger, known as the Ace of EV Chargers. If you are still wondering if you can use any charger with your electric car, forget about such worries with our technology.