What is a Type 2 Electric Car Charger?

• EV Charging Connector Types
• What Is A Type 2 EV Charger?
• There Are Two Types of AC Plugs
• And Two Types of Plugs Exist For DC Charging
•  

Electric Vehicles (EVs) feature different charging speeds varying on the type of charger used for the vehicle and the rated power of the electrical infrastructure where the charger is connected. Depending on the charging speed featured at a particular EV charging station, you might have different types of plugs to charge your vehicle.

Whether you have owned an EV for a long time and are looking to learn more about EV chargers and connector types or are just diving into the world of EVs for the first time, this article will be of great help for you.

EV Charging Connector Types

EV charging connectors vary depending on the type of charger and current used. DC chargers can juice up the battery for an EV at a much faster pace than an AC charger. The type of charger that can be installed at a particular location mainly depends on the electrical infrastructure of the place and the EV charging equipment installed.

AC charging stations are categorized in levels or types. Type 1 is a low to medium power rate charging station that in some cases can take days to charge an EV battery, a type 2 electric car charger features a medium to high power rate, and it is a much more popular option since it can charge EVs at a faster pace.

What Is A Type 2 EV Charger?

A type 2 EV charger is the most easily accessible and popular option to charge EVs at a relatively fast pace. The exact power rate of type 2 electric car chargers varies on the electrical infrastructure of the place, considering the type of connection (single-phase or three-phase) and the maximum power rate available for that location.

The most efficient residential type 2 charging station can deliver a relatively high power rate of up to 22 kW to the vehicle. Type 2 Public charging stations have a more heavily robust and dedicated electrical infrastructure, allowing the charging power rate of the EV charging station to go up to 43 kW.  

There Are Two Types of AC Plugs

AC charging stations are the most commonly available EV chargers for residential and commercial applications. An AC EV charging station may feature one of two AC plugs that have become a norm under the International Standard IEC 62196. These are the following:

The SAE J1772 plug is a Type 1 plug commonly known as a J plug. A J plug can usually reach a maximum power rate of around 19 kW, it is used in single-phase charging stations, features no locking mechanisms and has around 5 pins to pass current through.

The SAE J3068 plug is the most popular AC connector used to charge EVs in type 2 charging points, featuring a relatively fast charging pace. This connector is better known as the Mennekes connector and features a three-phase connection. This connector has a 7-pin design which allows a higher power rate of around 22 kW through, featuring a safe built-in locking mechanism.

And Two Types of Plugs Exist For DC Charging

DC Fast Chargers can charge up the battery capacity of an EV at a much faster rate than AC Type 1 and Type 2 car chargers. There are two types of plugs commonly used in DC charging, these are the following:

CHAdeMO is the most popular DC charging plug, featuring two female and two male pins, with a maximum continuous power rate of 100 kW. The name for this plug is an abbreviation of CHArge de Move, which comes from the phrase “O’ CHA deMO ikaga desuka?” (Do we drink a tea?). This is a Japanese reference that means it only takes as long as you drink a tea for your car to be fully charged.

The Combined Charging System (CCS) plug currently features the highest power rate for EV charge plugs in the industry. This type of charger has a design of two Type 2 charge pins and features a maximum continuous power rate of 350 kW.