Accessory
EV Charger Connector
Introduction to EV Charging Connectors
Electric vehicle (EV) charging connectors serve as the bridge between an electric vehicle and a charging station, transmitting power to charge the vehicle’s battery. Different regions and vehicle models may use different types of charging connectors. Below are some common EV charging connectors:
Type 1 (J1772)
Type 1 is the standard charging connector used in North America, primarily in the United States and Canada. It supports a maximum AC voltage of 240V and up to 80A AC for alternating current, while the maximum DC voltage is 1000V and up to 400A DC for direct current.
● Commonly found in electric vehicles in the North American and Japanese markets.
● Supports single-phase AC charging, making it suitable for slow charging (Level 1 and Level 2).
● The connector is relatively small and is typically used for home and workplace charging.
Rated Values for North American AC/DC Charging Connectors
Electrical Parameters and Functional Definitions of Terminals for American Standard AC/DC Charging Connectors
The Type 2 connector, which follows the European standard, has a maximum AC voltage of 480V and a maximum current of 63A. For DC charging, it supports a maximum voltage of 1000V and a maximum current of 200A.
● It is the standard connector in the European market and is also used by many electric vehicle models in Asia.
● Supports both single-phase and three-phase AC charging, making it suitable for faster charging speeds (up to 22kW).
● Commonly used in public charging stations and home charging setups.
Rated Values for European AC/DC Charging Connectors
CHAdeMO is a DC connector jointly developed by five Japanese automakers, which they attempted to promote as a global standard starting in 2010, though it has not been widely adopted. Despite this, there are still several countries or regions that use the CHAdeMO connector, including Japan, with most installations found in Europe (particularly in Northern Europe), the United States, and South Korea. The CHAdeMO standard has two versions: the first version supports charging up to 62.5 kW with a maximum charging current of 125 A; the revised CHAdeMO 2.0 specification allows for charging up to 400 kW.
● A standard developed in Japan that supports DC fast charging.
● Commonly used in Japanese brand electric vehicles, such as Nissan and Mitsubishi.
● Currently supports up to 100 kW charging power, with plans to upgrade to support even higher power levels.
The NACS (North American Charging Standard) supports a maximum voltage of 1000V DC and a maximum current of 400A DC; for AC charging, it is consistent with J1772.
● A proprietary charging connector designed by Tesla for its vehicles, supporting both AC and DC charging.
● Used within Tesla's exclusive Supercharger network.
● In North America, Tesla uses its own proprietary connector, while in Europe, Tesla vehicles use Type 2 or CCS connectors.
The GB/T standard is China's reference standard for electric vehicle charging connectors and handshake circuits, specifically GB/T 20234 and GB/T 18487.1. The maximum voltage for the AC charging connector is three-phase 440V AC, with a maximum current of 63A AC. For DC charging, the maximum voltage is 1000V DC, with a maximum current of 300A DC under natural cooling and up to 800A DC under active cooling.
● China's electric vehicle charging standard, covering both AC and DC charging connectors.
● Widely used in electric vehicles in the Chinese market.
● The DC fast charging connector supports up to 250kW of charging power.
Summary
Overall, different charging standards are applicable to various countries and regions, with differences in connectors, communication protocols, and certification requirements. Therefore, it is essential to choose the appropriate charging connector according to the standards of each region to meet regulatory requirements and ensure compatibility. This will provide a better charging experience.