Types Of Electric Car Charging Ports
Similar to using different pumps to fill up a non-EV with fuel, electric vehicles use a variety of charging plugs and ports. The different types of electric car battery charger originate from improvements in charging technology and proprietary infrastructure.
We’ve written this handy guide on EV charging ports, breaking down the differences from the humble Type 1 to the intriguingly-named CHAdeMo.
EV charger levels
Regardless of the connection or port type there are currently three levels of EV charging, ranging from Level 1 to Level 3.
Type 1 charger
Also known as J1772 chargers, Type 1s comply with select older EV models. Featuring a five pin design, the Type 1 isn’t as common in Australia as it once was.
Type 2 charger
Type 2 chargers are the current standard for BEVs (battery electric vehicles) in Australia.Two of the seven pins used on a Type 2 (Mennekes) plug support high-voltage three-phase charging.
CHAdeMo
This unique name is a double acronym, short for ‘charge de move’ (‘charge and move’ in French) and ‘o cha de mo ikaga desuko’ (‘do you want some tea?’ in Japanese), both referring to its rapid charging speed. CHAdeMo is a fast-charger connection used mainly by Japanese EVs, alongside a few European brands.
CHAdeMo is a DC-only connection capable of delivering up to 400kW at peak performance.
CCS
The Combined Charging System is a fast-charge connection consisting of a set of small pins and two large pins below. The System is split into two subtypes:
Due to their versatility, the above subtypes are referred to as CCS Combo Chargers. CCS2 ports are a complement to a solar powered electric car charger. With a CCS2 port, you can charge your EV using home solar and public fast-charging stations.
Tesla
Tesla uses a proprietary charger that is a variation on the standard Type 2. Two pins are used to enable DC charging across the Tesla network of ‘Superchargers’. They also enable communication between Tesla vehicles and Tesla charging stations. This means that Tesla chargers can be used with Type 2 stations but other brands of EV cannot use Tesla stations.
Solar powered electric car charger
Many public charging stations in Australia generate electricity through renewable sources, but you can bring that sustainability closer to home with Solar System. For day-time charging, solar panels and an electric car battery charger can keep your EV charged and ready. For low-light days or night-time charging, a solar battery can be the perfect solution to keep the renewable energy flowing.
For more information on a potential solar electric car charger or to book or a free no-obligation assessment, contact the highly-trained team at Solar System.