You may already know that the charging level you choose for your electric vehicle (EV) matters. It decides how long it will take to charge your EV and how much range you'll have when you're finished.
But what you may not know is that there are different connection types for electric vehicle chargers, each with benefits and downsides. It can make things confusing when you're trying to figure out what type of charger to buy for your home or business. Here's a quick rundown of the most common connection types for electric vehicle chargers to help you make the best decision for your needs.
1. CHAdeMO
The CHAdeMO connector is the most common type of connection for fast-charging electric vehicles. It was designed to be the industry standard connector by a handful of Japanese automakers. The connector is often used in public EV charging stations. And, it can deliver a high charge rate, making it a good choice for rapid charging.
The downside of CHAdeMO is that it's not compatible with all EV models. While most Japanese and Korean EVs can use this charger type, many American and European models cannot. And to achieve Level 1 or 2 charging, you will also need an SAE J1772 connector cord.
2. CCS
The CCS connector is the most common type of connection for fast-charging electric vehicles in North America and Europe. BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and other major automakers back the CCS standard, so it's likely to become even more popular in the coming years.
CCS differs from CHAdeMO connectors in that with CSS, you can AC/DC charge on the same port.
3. SAE J1772
The SAE J1772 is the standard connector type for Level 1 and 2 EV chargers. Most home and office chargers use this type of connection, as it's compatible with the vast majority of EV models on the market.
However, the J1772 connector is not well-suited for high-speed charging. For that, you will need one of the other connectors on this list.
4. Tesla Superchargers
Tesla pioneered the use of rapid charging stations with its supercharger network. In North America, all Tesla models are equipped with superchargers. And the car company does offer CHAdeMO and CSS compatibility in certain markets.
Superchargers are only compatible with Tesla vehicles. So, if you have another brand of EV, you'll need to use one of the other connectors on this list.
If you’re in the market searching for an EV charger and you have further questions, please contact YourEVStore today.