Charging Connectors for Electric Cars

As for AC current, there are four AC current charging connectors-Mode 2 and Mode 3:

• Type 1 Yazaki
• Type 2 Mennekes
• Type 3A
• Type 3C Scame

In contrast, DC charging connectors, are CHAdeMo and CCS Combo 2.

There are three types of connectors for electric vehicle charging in IEC 62196-2: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (Type 3A and Type 3C).

The main difference between the Type 2 and Type 3 connector is the presence of protection devices against accidental contact of live parts (IPXXD) on all system components: socket and plug.

CONNECTOR GUIDE – ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC)

TYPE 1
(Yazaki) SAE J1772-2009

The Type 1 connector has 5 contacts:

• 3 power contacts: L1, N, PE
• 2 communication contacts:
  PP (proximity)
  CP (pilot control)

The Type 1 connector is the North American
and Japanese standard, but is very common on
vehicles (it is not usually installed on board
charging stations). This connector can
only be used for single-phase charging.
MAX 32A 230V

TYPE 2

(Mennekes) VDE-AR-E 2623-2-2

The Type 2 connector has 7 contacts:

• 5 power contacts: L1, L2, L3, N, PE
• 2 communication contacts:
  PP (proximity)
  CP (pilot control)

The Type 2 connector is the European standard for
AC charging stations and is the
most widely used connector on electric cars by
European electric vehicle manufacturers. This
connector can be used for both single-phase and three-phase
charging.

In addition, this connector is the one that comes with any of our Prism Electric Vehicle Chargers.

MAX 32A 230V / 32A 400V

TYPE 3C

(Scame) EV Plug Alliance

The Type 3C connector has 7 contacts:

• 5 power contacts: L1, L2, L3, N, PE
• 2 communication contacts:
  PP (proximity)
  CP (pilot control)

The Type 3C connector is gradually
going out of use, we only find it on
some charging stations and it is totally absent
on electric vehicles.
This connector can be used for both
single-phase and three-phase charging.

MAX 32A 230V / 32A 400V

TYPE 3A

(Scame)

The Type 3A connector has 4 contacts:

• 3 power contacts: L1, N, PE
• 1 communication contact:
  CP (pilot control)

The Type 3A connector is the connector dedicated to
charging light electric vehicles (scooters
electric, quadricycles).
We find it on both charging stations and
electric vehicles (often as a termination of the
built-in charging cable).

MAX 16A 230V

CONNECTOR GUIDE – DIRECT CURRENT (DC)

CCS Combo2

The CCS (Combined Charging System) standard consists of a single
charging connector on the electric vehicle, which allows both fast
charging in direct current (DC) and slow charging in alternating current (AC).
In Europe, CCS is made from the Type 2 connector, so the
system is named Combo2.

This system is now adopted by a number of European automakers
(e.g., BMW and Volkswagen) and is gradually being deployed on the
new electric vehicles coming to market soon.

CHAdeMO

The CHAdeMO standard is the most widely used
direct current (DC) fast charging standard in the World.
Used and widespread for a number of years already, it can be found, for example
on Nissan, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Citroen vehicles.
Vehicles equipped with this standard therefore have two connectors:

• CHAdeMO for Fast DC recharges.
• AC charging connector (normally Type 1)