Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Depending on your vehicle, the type of charging station, and your location, you'll be faced with a different cable, plug. or both. Contact online >>
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Depending on your vehicle, the type of charging station, and your location, you''ll be faced with a different cable, plug... or both.
EV charging plugs vary based on the manufacturer and country you find yourself in, but there are a few dominant standards across the world, each used in a particular region. North America uses the Type 1 plug for AC charging and CCS1 for DC fast charging, while Europe uses the Type 2 connector for AC charging and CCS2 for DC fast charging.
Tesla cars have always beena bit of an exception. While they''ve adapted their designto fit the standards ofother continents, in the US, they use their own proprietary plug, which the companynow calls the "North American Charging Standard (NACS)". Recently, they shared the design with the worldand invited othercar and charging equipment manufacturers to includethis connector type into their designs.
The greatest difference a driver will experience between a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric vehicle (EV) is how they refuel. While filling up a conventional vehicle with gas or diesel is relatively straightforward, switching to electric mobility means trading the familiar gas pump for an EV charging plug. The world of electric car charging can be daunting and confusing at first, with many different types of cables, plugs, and charging ports used around the world.
With so many variables and new concepts, making sure you''re using the right cable or plug for your charging needs can seem daunting—but it doesn''t have to be. Read on as we untangle the differences between EV charging cables and plugs so you can charge with confidence wherever you go.
Not at all, EV charging cables come in four forms or "modes", each used for a certain type of charging. It may get slightly confusing, seeing that the mode does not necessarily correlate to the "level" of charging. In this section, we aim to unpack the difference between Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3, and Mode 4 charging cables and determine which is best suited for what type of charging.
No, just like how the plugs of electrical appliances differ depending on the country you''re in, EV charging plugs and sockets also vary depending on the vehicle model, type of charging level you use, and country the plugs are manufactured in. Luckily, each region has a specific standard, so you shouldn''t encounter an unfamiliar plug too often.
In electricity, a phase refers to the distribution of a load, and single-phase power is a two-wire alternating current (ac) power circuit. There is a more powerful alternative known as three-phase power. The key difference between single-phase vs. three-phase is that a three-phase power supply better accommodates higher loads.
To describe it less technically: A three-phase power supply can transmit three times as much power as a single-phase power supply. Turning the lights on at home? Single-phase power will do. A commercial dishwasher used in restaurants? Three-phase power is usually required.
With over 45,000 Superchargers, Tesla owns and operates the largest fast-charging network in the world. Until recently, this network was exclusively for the high-speed charging of Tesla vehicles, with its own charging connector design. Not too long ago, this meant that Tesla owners who wanted to charge their EVs at a non-Tesla charging station had to familiarize themselves with different connection adapters and that non-Tesla drivers simply couldn''t charge their car at a Tesla charging station.
Tesla made concessions in Europe and adopted CCS2 for their vehicles in the continent. At the same time, Tesla also offered a CCS to the Tesla proprietary plug adapter, allowing Tesla drivers outside of Europe to charge at non-Tesla charging stations. But things have evolved further. In November 2021, Tesla began opening up their network to non-Tesla cars.
Only a year after that, in November 2022,Tesla shared theirEV connector design withthe world and invited charging network operators and vehicle manufacturers to put the Tesla charging connector and charge port, now called the North American Charging Standard (NACS), on their equipment and vehicles.
So you’re thinking about taking the electric car plunge, but it’s a lot of new information to go through — especially about charging your new EV. How to charge, where to charge, and how do you get charged for charging? The answers to these questions will be further discussed.
You will find three kinds of charging levels for your EV. Based on the Charged Future chart above, you can do Level 1 and Level 2 at home. Level 3, or DC fast charging, comes from high-voltage public charging stations. Tesla owners can use the brand’s Supercharger network.
Level 1 charger: Level 1 charging uses the charging cord that comes with most electric cars. It plugs into a regular household outlet and provides the slowest type of EV charging. Depending on the battery size and the vehicle, it could take from overnight to several days to fully charge a car. That trickle of electricity may be convenient and inexpensive, but it is far from ideal. For a Kia EV6 GT, you’re looking at 68 hours to fully charge using Level 1.
Level 2 charger: This type of charger puts out twice the voltage. It’s the same voltage as an electric clothes dryer or another large appliance. Level 2 chargers can charge much more quickly than the 120-volt variety. On a Level 2 unit, the EV6 charges to full in about 7 hours, roughly overnight while you’re sleeping. Another good thing about Level 2 — sometimes you can even use them for free in shopping center parking lots or at commercial stations like Volta. You can have a Level 2 charger installed at your home.
Level 3 charger (DC fast charge): For quicker charges when you’re out and if your vehicle is compatible, you can connect to a DC fast charger pushing up to 350kW. With this charger, you’ll use direct current to go from 0% charge to 80% charge in Kia’s EV6 in 18 minutes in our example. You’ll find some fast chargers operate up to 50kW, 62.5kW, and 150kW, which would charge the EV6 to 80% in around 30 minutes. A full charge will take 73 minutes.
Finding a DC fast charger isn’t as tough as you might think. There are apps built into the electric car’s mapping system to direct you to charging stations. EV drivers can and should install several charging network smartphone apps to help them locate nearby chargers, plan a route, and streamline payment. For some EV owners, the bigger challenge is finding a DC charger that has a compatible connector.
One essential thing to know about your EV is the kind of charge plug or plugs the car has. The most common connection is the J1772, used for Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
Some cars, primarily the Nissan Leaf, use CHAdeMO plugs for DC fast charging. CSS Combo connectors are much more common. Tesla uses its proprietary connector that works with its Supercharger and Destination Charging stations. Non-Tesla owners can purchase an adapter to use Tesla’s Destination Chargers. Only Tesla vehicles can currently use the Supercharger network.
Be aware of the connection type your car has before pulling up to a charger. If you anticipate using a fast charger when traveling, check charging network apps beforehand to filter station locations by the types of plugs compatible with your vehicle.
Now, money. The easiest method to pay for charging is to create a free account using the network’s smartphone app. Charging networks are similar to gas station brands in that some are nationwide while others have regional concentrations. Many EV owners set up accounts with several networks to use while away from home.
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