There are four types of plugs for charging your electric vehicle in the market. Two AC EV charging connector types (Type 1 and Type 2) and Two DC EV charging connector types (CHAdeMO and CCS).
AC model: Charges the battery by the inverter of the cars
DC model: Charges the battery directly, not by any inverter
Type 1
Type 2
CHAdeMO
CCS
AC plugs Type 1
Type 1 is a single-phase plug (with a maximum current of 32 A and a maximum voltage of 250 V) and is standard for EVs from America and Asia. Type1 was developed in Japan for the vehicle side.It allows you to charge your car at a speed of up to 7.4 kW, depending on the charging power of your car and grid capability.
AC plugs Type 2
Type 2 plugs are triple-phase plugs (single-phase: maximum 70A to three-phase: maximum 63A with a maximum voltage of 480 V) because they have three additional wires to let current run through. So naturally, they can charge your car faster. At home, the highest charging power rate is 22 kW, while public charging stations can have a charging power up to 43 kW, again depending on the charging power of your car and grid capability.
All European electric vehicles, whether all-electric or hybrid, use the Type-2 connector.
Consider examples:
If you live in Europe and have a European car, you can charge it a public station using a charging cable with type 2 plugs at both ends (type 2 to type 2). The maximum speed might be up to 43 kW.
If you live in Europe and drive an Asian car? You need a cable that connects the type 2 plug of the charging station with the type 1 outlet of your vehicle (type 2 to type 1). The maximum speed will be up to 7.4 kW.
Charging Rate - Various:
– 3.6kW EV Charger: 25km/Hour (Single-Phase/standard domestic).
– 7.2kW EV Charger: 50km/Hour (Single-Phase/standard domestic).
– 11 kW EV Charger: 70km/Hour (Three-Phase/commercial property).
– 22 kW EV Charger: 150km/Hour (Three-Phase/commercial property).
DC plugs CHAdeMO
This quick charging system was developed in Japan, and allows for very high charging capacities as well as bidirectional charging. Currently, Asian car manufacturers are leading the way in offering electric cars that are compatible with a CHAdeMO plug( mainly used in Japan, China and the USA, as is the type GB/T 20234, which was developed in China but is not common in Europe). It allows charging up to 100 kW.
DC plugs CCS
The CCS plug is an enhanced version of the type 2 plug , with two additional power contacts for the purposes of quick charging. It supports AC and DC charging. It allows charging at a speed of up to 350 kW.
This was declared a European standard by the EU in 2013. There are two styles, CSS COMBO 1 and CSS COMBO 2
CSS COMBO 1
Allows the use of chargers with a power of up to 125 kW, voltage is 600V, current 200A – extended version of the standard type 1, USA
CSS COMBO 2
charging up to 350 kW and is an extended version of the type 2 connector. The voltage is up to 1000V and the current is 500A, EUROPE
