Connectors

There are a few different connectors for plugging in Electric Vehicles.

There are a few different connectors for plugging in Electric Vehicles, these are getting standardized -- but there's always a shake-out period early in technological evolution.

ℹ️ Info

~ Aristotle Sabouni
Created: 2021-07-04

🗒️ Note:
Tesla connector is superior to CCS in every way; smaller, simpler, weighs less, costs less, less moving parts, more rugged/reliable, charges faster. But Tesla only made it a standard late (2022), and CCS was already established and being popularized.

North America has CCS1 and Tesla (NCAS), with a few left over CHAdeMO connectors
Europe has standardized on CCS2, with a few left over Tesla, CHAdeMO connectors
Japan has CHAdeMO connectors, with a few Tesla connectors for their own supercharging network
China did their own thing with GB/T -- which is about 1/2 way between Tesla and a Mennekes connector

I simplify by referring to is as CCS (either North America or European) -- but CCS is more complex and confusing than that. Tesla, GB/T and CHAdeMO handle both AC (Home/Destination charging) and DC (SuperCharging)... while each of the CCS charging connectors are two different connectors. CCS is basically 2 halves:

In North America for slower AC (Home/Destination) charging, you use the catchy named J1772 (aka Type 1) connector.
The CCS1 connector (North America) is a J1772, with a bottom half (two pins) welded on, which allows for faster DC SuperCharging
In Europe for for slower AC (Home/Destination) charging, you use the catchy named Mennekes (aka Type 2) connector.
The CCS2 connector (Europe) is a Mennekes, with a bottom half (and two pins) welded on, which allows for faster DC SuperCharging

Technically, this means that you may be using only the J1772 (Type 1) to charge your car at home, and not CCS1 (or Mennekes / Type-2 and not CCS2). But that's more detail that users care about. While technically, you're supposed to use the Plug Name (J1772 or CCS1), it's much easier to just refer to the socket name (CCS or CCS1) as you're going to use either plug in the same socket on the car, the only difference is just how big the plug is, and how fast it'll charge. Oh, and you have to open a stupid secondary flap on your charging port before the full CCS connector will dock. The same applies to CCS2.

🗒️ Note:
There are adapters (dongles) to go from pretty much any of these, to any other one. So you aren't locked out because of the wrong car/station combo, you just might need an adapter. It's a little annoying, if you're cross plugging, as you always need to carry the other one around. Or a lot annoying if you're on a roadtrip, and you find out you don't have one or lost it. Many Charging Stations have more than one cable/connector so you don't need to worry about it, some even have that on all their "pumps" (every stall). While most adapters/cars do have some locking mechanisms (or you can buy them 3rd party), and your car will alert you when it is unplugged, the dongles can be stolen. This is mostly an overnight or city-charging problem, rather than supercharging.

Table[edit | edit source]

Country	Type	Names	Speed
U.S.	AC	(Type 1) J1772	Level 1 = 1.4Kw - 1.9Kw (120v@12A w/15A circuit up to 12v0@16A w/20A circuit) Level 1+ = 2.8Kw (120v@24A w/30A circuit - optional / not in spec) Level 2 = 7.6Kw - 19.2Kw (240v@32A w/50A circuit up to 80A w/100A circuit)
U.S.	DC	CCS1 Supercharging	Level 1: 36Kw Level 2: 72Kw Level 3: 400Kw (400Kw is theoretical, 350Kw is delivered)
Tesla	AC	Tesla	Level 1 = 1.4Kw - 1.9Kw (120v@12A w/15A circuit up to 12v0@16A w/20A circuit) Level 1+ = 2.8Kw (120v@24A w/30A circuit - optional / not in spec) Level 2 = 12Kw - 19.2Kw (240v@32A w/50A circuit up to 80A w/100A circuit) Level 2+ = 277v (3 phase commercial)
Tesla	DC	Tesla	v1 = 72Kw (Urban / in-malls, etc) v2 = 150Kw (shared between 2 stalls) v3 = 250Kw (300Kw announced)
EU	AC	(Type 2) Mennekes	Level 1 = 3.7 kW (230v@15A w/15A) Level 2 = 7 kW (230v@30A) Level 3 = 22 kW (3 phase) Level 3+ = 43 kW (Renault Zoë)
EU	DC	CCS2	v1 : 50 kW v2 : 150 kW v2 : 300 kW
Japan	AC	(Type 4) CHAdeMO Mostly Nissan Leaf	Level 1 : up to 6-7 kW home units (max) Level 2 : ≈22 kW for Nissan Leaf by implementation (43Kw by spec)
Japan	DC	(Type 4) CHAdeMO Mostly Nissan Leaf	v1 : ≈50kW v2 : 200 kW v3: 400kW Future: 800 kW v2 & v3 not implemented outside Japan.
China	AC	GB/T 20234.2-2015	220v/440v @ 32A : ≈ 7kW - 14kW
China	DC	GB/T 20234.2-2015	750v
GM EV1 (1996)	Inductive	Magne Charge J1773	Level 1 = 1.2Kw standard (120v AC) Level 2 = 6.6kW