Guide to Electric Car Charger Types
As electric cars continue to gain popularity, it is essential to consider the type of chargers and connectors compatible with your car.
A Guide to Electric Car Charger Types and Connectors: What You Need to Know Before Charging
As electric cars continue to gain popularity, it is essential to consider the type of chargers and connectors compatible with your car.
With the various charger types and connectors available, it can be overwhelming to understand which option is available for your electric car and what this means for your charging experience.
Here is a comprehensive guide to electric car charger types and connectors, to help you navigate the best options for your electric vehicle.
Charging Speeds
Charging speeds vary depending on the type of charger used. In general, there are three main categories of charging speeds.
Slow Charging
The first is slow charging, this is delivered through a household three pin-plug and provides 2.3 kWs. This would take a very long time to charge a full-electric vehicle to 100% and isn't the safest option as it places a big demand on the plug socket.
Fast Charging
The second charging type is fast charging. This provides between 7 and 22 kWs of charge and is usually found in an at home, dedicated wall box home charger.
Rapid Charging
The third level of charge is Rapid Charging, this provides the fastest level of charge and can normally be found at public charging stations. They provide 50 kWs of charge meaning that you can charge a 100 kWh battery from empty to full in around 2 hours.
Connector Types
Type 2 Chargers
Type 2 chargers are the most widely used electric car chargers in Europe. They usually offer Fast AC charging speeds and are compatible with most electric cars manufactured in Europe. Type 2 chargers normally max at 22 kW.
CCS Chargers
CCS (Combined Charging System) chargers are a combination of Type 2 chargers and DC fast chargers, making them an excellent option for electric car owners who want access to both types of chargers. Rapid and Ultra Rapid charging can be facilitated by CCS connectors.
ChadeMo Connectors
ChadeMo stands for Charge to Move, this option was originally a big competitor to the CCS charger, but are no longer in regular use. This is due to the ChadeMo not being compatible with the Type 2 charging system. ChadeMo connectors can only be used for DC charging and was most common on the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander
Type 1 Chargers
Type 1 chargers are designed for use with electric cars manufactured in the United States and are an alternative to Type 2.
Where to charge your electric vehicle
If you do opt for an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid that you want to run on pure electric power, then the next thing to think about is where you’re going to charge it. Options for where to charge your electric vehicle include:
Charging at home
Can be the most convenient option, you can choose whether to have a wallbox installed, which offers faster charging, or use a three-pin plug.
Charging in public
Perfect for when you're out and about, public chargers such as those on shop car parks allow you to charge whilst enjoying your day.
Charging at work
If your workplace offers charging stations at work you can charge up while in the office ready for your journey home.
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How long will it take to charge?
We have used data from the manufacturer to estimate these charging times. Charging times for some speeds may not have been provided.
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