Understanding the Different EV Plug Types
This is the current state of EV plug types that vary by region, power source (i.e., slow vs. fast charging) and vehicle type.
1.Type 1 - SAE J1772
This is the North American and Asian standard for Level 1 and Level 2 charging with single phase alternating current (AC). It is a 5-pin plug with a maximum power of 19.2 kW. In most cases, if you drive an electric vehicle in the United States, you can use a Type 1 plug to connect to a home or public charging station.
2.Type 2 - Mennekes
This is the European standard, and three-phase AC is the default power source for Level 1 and Level 2 charging.The 7-pin plug allows for a maximum power of 43 kW, and (unlike Type 1) has an automatic locking device to prevent accidental disconnection.
3.CCS1
This 7-pin EV plug is needed if you want to use DC FC charging (up to 350kW) in North America, but it can also be used for slow-speed AC charging. Essentially, the CCS1 is a Category 1 plug with the addition of two high-speed DC charging pins. If you're charging at a public charging station, where the goal is usually to get back on the road in the shortest amount of time possible, then this EV plug will fit the bill.
4.CCS2
The European CCS1 is a 9-pin enhancement of the Type 2 plug. It can charge up to 350 kW. Like the CCS1, this plug provides both AC and DC charging.
5.CHAdeMO
Originally developed in Japan, the 10-pin CHAdeMO was one of the first fast-charging DC plug types on the market. The first generation could deliver up to 50 kW, while the second generation could deliver up to 400 kW. CHAdeMO also enables two-way vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging. Despite its popularity in Japan, the CHAdeMO plug is being phased out internationally, particularly as the European Commission has mandated the use of CCS2 for DC charging in Europe.
6.GB/T
As a North American driver, you won't have access to this type of EV plug, but more than half of the world's EV drivers use it. That's because the GB/T is the standard AC and DC plug in China, with an AC output of 7.4 kW and a DC output of 237.5 kW.
7.Tesla Supercharger
Tesla's proprietary EV plug supports Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 AC and DC charging. In other words, there is only one plug. In North America, Tesla uses NACS chargers, but all vehicles come with adapters that connect to the Class 1 J1772 plug. In Europe, Tesla vehicles now use CCS2 charging.
