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Electric vehicle charging connector in Europe

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IEC Type 2

Female (vehicle connector) Combo2 &#; DC Charger (left) and Normal

Type 2

&#;

1&#;3 phase

AC Charger (right).

Type Electric vehicle chargingProduction historyDesigner MennekesDesigned Produced General specificationsLength 200 millimetres (7.9 in)Diameter 70 millimetres (2.8 in)Width 70 millimetres (2.8 in)Height 63 millimetres (2.5 in)Pins 7 (1 earth, 3 line phases, 1 neutral, 2 signalling)Connector VDE-AR-E -2-2ElectricalSignal DC, 1&#;3 phase ACEarth Dedicated pinMax. voltage 480 VMax. current 300 ADataData signal SAE J#Signaling: Resistive / Pulse-width modulationPinout Pinouts for Type 2 female (charging station outlet/vehicle connector) and male (vehicle inlet/outlet side plug) electric vehicle charging plugsPP Proximity pilot pre-insertion signallingCP Control pilot post-insertion signallingPE Protective earth full-current protective earthing system&#;6-millimetre (0.24 in) diameterN Neutral single-/three-phase AC / DC-midL1 Line 1 single-/three-phase AC / DC-midL2 Line 2 three-phase AC / DC-midL3 Line 3 three-phase AC / DC-mid Combo 2 extension adds two extra high-current DC pins underneath and does not use the AC pins.

The IEC Type 2 connector (often referred to as Mennekes for the company that designed it) is used for charging electric vehicles, mainly within Europe, as it was declared standard by the EU. Based on widespread red IEC three phase plugs with five pins, which come in different diameters according to maximum current (most common are 16 A and 32 A), a single size was selected, as maximum possible power will be communicated to the car via two additional communication pins and by a simple resistor coding within the cable. The onboard charger inside the car has to limit the current accordingly.

The connector is circular in shape, with a flattened top edge; the original design specification carried an output electric power of 3&#;50 kW for charging battery electric vehicles using single-phase (230V) or three-phase (400V) alternating current (AC), with a typical maximum of 32 A 7.2 kW using single-phase AC and 22 kW with three-phase AC in common practice.[1] The plugs have openings on the sides that allow both the car and the charger to lock the plug automatically to prevent unwanted interruption of charging, or theft of the cable.

As modified by Tesla for its European Supercharger network (up to Version 2), it is capable of outputting 150 kW using direct current (DC) via two pins each, with a switch inside the Tesla Model S or X car selecting the required mode. Since , Tesla has adopted the CCS2 connector on their Version 3 Superchargers (outputting 250 kW), including a second cable for CCS support on Version 2 Superchargers, on all European models of the Model 3 and Y, with a hardware upgrade and adapter for pre- Model S and X vehicles,[2] and since on Model S and X as the new connector.[3]

History, overview, and peer connectors

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The Type 2 connector system was originally proposed by Mennekes in . The system was later tested and standardized by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) as VDE-AR-E -2-2, and subsequently recommended by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) in . In January , the IEC Type 2 connector was selected by the European Commission as official AC charging plug within the European Union.[4] It has since been adopted as the recommended connector in most countries worldwide, including New Zealand.[5] When passing AC, the maximum power of the Mennekes connector is 43 kW.[6] The IEC Type 1 connector (codified under SAE J) is the corresponding standard for single-phase AC charging in the United States, Canada, and South Korea.[7] J has a maximum output of 19.2 kW.[8]

In North America, the same Type 2 physical connector is used for three-phase AC charging under the SAE J standard, which uses Local Interconnect Network (LIN) for control signaling based on IEC -1 Edition 3 Annex D.[9][10] J increases the maximum output to 166 kW using three-phase AC.[8]

The same physical connector is also used in China under the Guobiao standard GB/T .2- for AC-charging, with gender differences for the vehicle and electric vehicle supply equipment. GB/T -2 specifies cables with Type 2-style male connectors on both ends, and a female inlet on vehicles[11]&#;the opposite gender to the rest of the world, and with different control signaling.

The Combined Charging System Combo 2 "fast charging" connector uses the signaling and protective earth pins of the Type 2 connector and adds two pins for rapid charging, with direct current power supplied at rates up to approximately 350 kW.[7]

Description

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Regional variations in IEC -2 Type 2 AC implementation[

citation needed

] Region / Standard Socket outlet Connecting cable Vehicle inlet Electrical Plug Connector Phase (φ) Current Voltage EU / IEC Type 2 Female Male Female Male 1φ 70A 480V 3φ 63A US / SAE J AC6 Permanently connected Female Male 3φ 100, 120, 160A 208, 480, 600V China / GB/T .2 Female Male Male Female 1φ

(3φ reserved)

16, 32A 250/400V

As specified by IEC , cars are fitted with a standardized male vehicle inlet, whilst charging stations are fitted with a female socket outlet, either directly on the outside of the charging station, or via a flexible cable with permanently attached connector on the end. When the charging station is equipped with a permanently fixed cable, the connector end of the cable can be attached directly into the vehicle inlet, similar to using a petrol pump and when no fixed cable is available, a separate male-to-female cable is used to connect the vehicle, either using the charging station, or from a traditional IEC -2 industrial connector.

The Type 2 connector system was originally proposed by Mennekes in leading to the colloquial name of Mennekes. The system was later tested and standardized by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) as VDE-AR-E -2-2, and subsequently recommended by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) in . As of , Type 2 is intended to replace the previous vehicle connectors used for AC charging within the European electric vehicle network, displacing both Type 1 (SAE J) and Type 3 (EV Plug Alliance Types 3A and 3C; colloquially, Scame) connectors. For DC charging, the Combo 2 socket (Type 2 supplemented with 2 DC pins) shall become standard in cars, replacing Type 4 CHAdeMO. The transition period is scheduled to last until .[13][needs update]

The IEC Type 2 connector is used in a slightly modified form for all European Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles, and the European Tesla Supercharger network.[14] As of Tesla is the only automaker which offers charging with alternating current and direct current based on the IEC -2 specification. For charging with direct current the specification IEC -3 Combined Charging System (CCS) is favored in Europe.[15]

Pins

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AC and DC operating modes of a Type 2 plug in the EU[

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The connectors contain seven contact places: two small and five larger. The top row consists of two small contacts for signaling, the middle row contains three pins, the center pin is used for Earthing, while the outer two pins used for the power supply, optionally in conjunction with the two pins on the bottom row which are also for power supply. Three pins are always used for the same purposes:

• Proximity pilot (PP): pre-insertion signaling
• Control pilot (CP): post-insertion signaling
• Protective earth (PE): full-current protective earthing system&#;6-millimetre (0.24 in) diameter

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The allocation of the four normal power supply pins vary depending on the mode of operation. They are allocated as:

Female connector, middle and bottom row (power pin) allocations[

citation needed

] Mode Maximum (A1) (C1) (E1) Volts Amps (B2) (D2) Single-phase AC 500V AC 1×80A Neutral (N) Earth (PE) AC (L1) N/C N/C Three-phase AC 3×63A Neutral (N) Earth (PE) AC (L1) AC (L3) AC (L2) Combined single-phase AC and low-current DC 500V AC/DC 1×80A (AC) &
1×70A (DC) Neutral (N) Earth (PE) AC (L1) DC (+) DC (-) Low-current DC 500V DC 1×80A (DC) N/C Earth (PE) N/C DC (+) DC (-) Mid-current DC 1×140A (DC) DC (+) Earth (PE) DC (-) DC (+) DC (-)

Some vehicle inlets may contain the extra connections to allow the CCS DC-only charger (high-current DC) to be inserted.[17]

Communication takes place over the CP/PP signaling pins between the charger, cable, and vehicle to ensure that the highest common denominator of voltage and current is selected.

The signaling protocol is identical to that of Type 1 connectors as described in the SAE J standard.

Gallery

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• connector found on the end of the permanently-attached connector cable of

  Type 2-compatible femalefound on the end of the permanently-attached connector cable of Tesla Superchargers in Europe

• Type 2 male vehicle inlet for electric charging; the closed bottom portion of the inlet covers the two DC pins used for CCS Combo 2

• Charging station female socket outlet and matching male plug (blue color). In China only, a male connector is used for both ends of the connecting cable.

• connector (Mennekes)

  Type 2 female

• vehicle inlet on European

  Type 2-compatible 120 kW maleon European Tesla Model S

• vehicle inlet

  Type 2 (CCS Combo 2) European Tesla Model 3 male

See also

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• IEC , for information about the specification
• CHAdeMO and CCS Combo, for rapid charging.
• SAE J, or Type 1 connector, the equivalent AC connector used in North America, South Korea and Japan
• OpenEVSE

References

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Choosing the right EV charging cable is easier than it might seem. Our short guide helps you get the best possible charging speed, durability and user-friendliness.

What do you need to know?

If you are looking for a single cable that will give you the fastest possible charge at any charging point, there are three things you must know: That you need a Mode 3 cable, what if your car has a Type 1 or Type 2 inlet, and the capacity of its onboard charger.

Get a home charger

The very first thing you should know is that if you haven&#;t already, you should install a home charger. Home chargers are available with fixed cables and with outlets. No matter what you choose, you will need a cable for charging away from home. Read more about why you should install a home charger here.

Choose a Mode 3 EV charging cable

The Mode system goes from 1 to 4, but what you want is a Mode 3 charging cable. Mode 3 chargers are the standard for EV charging and can be used at any publically available charging point.

• Mode 1 is outdated and no longer used.
• Mode 2 cables are the standard emergency cables that are delivered with most electric vehicles. They have a regular plug for a standard wall socket at one end, a Type 1 or Type 2 at the other, and an ICCB (In Cable Control Box) in the middle. Mode 2 cables are not meant for everyday use and should only be an option in situations when there no charge point is available.
• Mode 3 is the modern standard for EV charging cables at home chargers and regular charging facilities. These charge points use regular AC, or alternating current, while fast chargers use DC, or direct current.
• Mode 4 is the system used at roadside fast chargers. There are no loose Mode 4 cables.

Choose the right Type

In the world of EV cables, Type refers to the design of the vehicle side plug, which can be either a Type 1 or Type 2. These correspond to Type 1 and Type 2 vehicle inlets. A Type 2 charging cable is the current standard. If you have a relatively new car, this is most likely what you have. Type 1 inlets can be found on older models of Asian brands, such as the Nissan Leaf . If in doubt, make sure to check the inlet on your car.

Choose the right amp, kW and phase version

Getting right amps, kilowatts, and knowing if you need a 1-phase or 3-phase cable is often what new EV owners find most challenging. Fortunately, there is an easy way to make the right choice. If you&#;re looking for a cable that will give you the fastest possible charge at any charge point, all you have to know is the capacity of your onboard charger. Use the table below to select a cable with a kW rating equal to or higher than the capacity of your onboard charger. Note that 3-phase cables can also use 1-phase. You can also find and buy the right cable for your car at the Norgeseliten webstore

If you only plan to use the cable at home, you may also want to consider the kW output capacity of your home charger. If the capacity of the home charger is lower than that of your car, you can use the table above to choose a cheaper and lighter cable with the right specification. If it can only charge at 3,6 kW, there is little point in having a 32 amp / 22 kW EV charging cable, at least until you buy a new car.

Choose the right length

EV charging cables are available in different lengths, usually between 4 to 10m. A longer cable gives you more flexibility, but also heavier, more cumbersome and more expensive. Unless you know you need the extra length, a shorter cable will usually suffice.

Choose the right EV charging cable quality

All EV charging cables are not the same. There are several significant differences between high-quality and low-quality cables. Higher-quality cables are more durable, are made with better materials and stronger protections against the strains expected from everyday use.

Quality cables are also better suited for extreme conditions. One thing many cable owners will have noticed is that the cable becomes stiff and unwieldy when the temperature drops. Higher-end cables are designed to remain flexible even in severe cold, making them easier to use and stow away.

Water getting on to the terminals and into the vehicle inlet is another common problem that may cause corrosion and a poor connection over time. One way to help avoid this issue is to select a cable with a cap that doesn&#;t collect water and dirt when the cable is in use.

High-end cables usually also have a more ergonomic design and a better grip. For something you may use every day, usability is worth considering.

Choose recyclable

Even the most durable charging cable must be replaced in the end. When that happens, every component should be fully recycled. Unfortunately, most EV charging cable plugs are water- and impact-proofed through with a process called potting, which involves filling the interior of the plug with plastic, rubber, or resin compound. These compounds make it nearly impossible to separate and recycle the components later. Fortunately, there are cables made without potting and reusable materials that can be completely recycled after use.

Choose the right accessories

Without a bracket, strap, or bag, an EV charging cable can be difficult to store and transport tidily and safely. At home, being able to coil and hang up the cable will help you keep it out of the way and protect it from water, dirt, and being run over by accident. In the car, a bag that can be fixed in the trunk helps keep the cable stowed away and not moving during driving.

An EV charging cable is also relatively expensive and a tempting target for burglars. A lockable docking and storage unit helps you protect your cable from being stolen, while also keeping it away from the floor.

Conclusion

In short, this is what you have to know:

If you want to learn more, please visit our website EV Charging Cable.

• Buy a home charger if you don&#;t have one already
• You are looking for a Mode 3 charging cable. A Mode 2 cable is nice to have as an emergency solution.
• Check the inlet type on your car model. A Type 2 charging cable is the standard for all new models, but some older Asian brands have Type 1.
• Select a cable with amp and kW ratings that correspond with or are higher than the capacity of the onboard charger in your car. If you plan only to use the cable at home, also consider the capacity of your home charger.
• Find a cable length that provides adequate flexibility without adding unnecessary cost, size, and weight.
• Invest in quality. High-end cables are more durable, easier to use, and often better protected against strains, accidents, water, and dirt.
• Do your part for the environment. Choose a fully recyclable product.
• Plan for storage and transport. Ensure that you get accessories that help you store the cable in an orderly way, protected from accidents and theft.