Who knew plugging in could be so complex? TG breaks it down into manageable mouthfuls
Powering electric vehicles should be straightforward, on the basis that we spend half our lives plugging stuff in. Phones, vacuums, household appliances, we’re no strangers to sticking cables in devices or topping up batteries. Yet, the differences in electric vehicle charging sockets can be inexplicably mind-boggling.
Here we push the chaff aside and give you the essential things you need to know about electric car charging and the differences in the three types of EV sockets in the UK.
First, though, we’re going to take a simplified whistlestop whirl of Key Stage 4 Physics to refresh your knowledge about the UK’s power grid. It ran on a standard of 240V, since we changed our plugs after WWII and put fuses in them. Most of Europe was set at 220V. In 1995, Western Europe harmonised to 230V, including Blighty.
North America, by contrast, has standardised 120V (it’s a bit more complex than that, but for the purposes of this exercise, the US is 120V standard).
The power coming into residential homes is predominantly ‘single-phase’. That means 230V of alternating current (AC) powers our properties. Unless you’re a farmer, or a business, or an industrial outfit, in which case, you most likely have 'three-phase', which supports 400V AC.
Why does any of this matter to EV charging sockets?
Patience, dear reader, we're getting to that...
The three types of EV socket that adorn the UK’s electric cars are the Type 2, Chademo and CCS. There is also a Type 1 connector - we'll come onto that.
From 2 to CCS, each offers an increasingly powerful charge, meaning shorter charging times. But the device has to be compatible with the connector, obvs.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 chargers?
Type 1 sockets are more commonly associated with US vehicles. Type 2 connectors, previously known as Mennekes, are used widely in Europe. That's because they became single-phase EU standard in 2015 - the US does use Type 2 connectors but only in their three-phase set-ups.
Type 1 supports 3kW-7kW charging, where Type 2 supports the broader 3kW-22kW charging. Most home chargers and destination chargers in supermarkets, shopping centres and such like offer 3kW or 7kW power delivery.
These are the slowest chargers out there - shy of sticking a cable through your lounge window and using a three-pin in the wall. Taking literally hours to go from zero to 100 per cent, these are not the chargers you hunt down when you're trying to get anywhere quickly.
But (and that’s a big but), that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Batteries don’t like to be perpetually charged fast - it knackers the chemistry in ‘em. Also, you’re not likely to turn up to any of these destinations with an absolutely pancake-flat battery. Since you’re topping up over a coffee, lunch, movie or shopping sesh, or overnight at home, slower is better.
What’s a Chademo socket?
Started in 2010, the CHAdeMO (CHArge de Move) system was the first “fast-charging” system, initially supporting a 62.5kW power delivery. The second-gen, which is widely used in Japan, but less common in Europe or the States, supports 400kW.
The name’s backstory is another mildly amusing Japanese take on life, stemming from a phrase ‘How about a cup of tea?’ - the intended charging period. It uses direct current (DC), rather than AC.
Some Japanese electric cars in the UK can make use of the handful of ‘rapid’ Chademo chargers originally installed. The list includes the Lexus UX 300e, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Nissan Leaf, plus some non-Japanese models, like the Mk1 Citroen Berlingo Electric and Mk1 Kia Soul EV - worth being aware of if you’re shopping for an electric car on the used car market.
Now, the majority of car makers, including the Japanese ones, have adopted the European CCS rapid-charging standard.
What’s the European CCS rapid-charging standard?
CCS standards for ‘combined charging system’. The port itself is an amalgamation of a smaller Type 1 or Type 2 port, with lozenge-shaped two pin, to make a super socket that can support much higher charging capabilities - we’re talking power deliver of up to 350kW+ these days.
That’s a long way from your ol’ home charger of 3kW, right?
But rapid-charging isn't just about turning up the power. Power generates heat, and 'thermal management' is a phrase that unsurprisingly goes far beyond you choosing to wear a onesie in a cost-of-living crisis.
Where do Tesla Supercharger sockets fit in to all of this?
Tesla’s sockets are unique to those models. However, in Europe, due to those (ultimately, not-so-very) pesky EU bureaucrats, the car maker has to comply with Type 2 standards. So Teslas are equipped to handle Type 2 and CCS charging in the UK.
FIVE OF THE INTERNET’S MOST PERTINENT QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING SOCKETS
Do you need a special socket for an electric car?
To connect the car to a power source for recharging the battery, you can use a standard three-pin plug. It might take a good week or so to get any useful range though, so it's worth considering installing a home charge point, or figuring out the nearest charge point locations to you. The Zap-Map app can be a helpful resource, as it comprehensively lists all charge points across the UK, gives you an idea of status i.e. whether they're functioning and if they're in use, and more recently, there's a feature called Zap-Pay, which makes paying for the electricity a bit less of a faff.
Can you change a Type 1 charger to Type 2?
You can't retrofit a different socket to the car, but you can get adapters that connect to the socket, or the plug to change your cable, rather than the motor.
Can you charge an electric car from a normal plug socket in the UK?
Most manufacturers will supply - either as standard, or as an optional extra - a cable with a three-pin plug so you can use a regular home socket to charge an EV. As we've said, using a 13amp socket is sloooooooooow. But it can be a life-saver in a bind. If you've not got a lot of mates with home EV charge points installed, it might be worth learning how to 'hypermile' now.
How much does it cost to install an electric car charging point at home in the UK?
The million-pound question... it's not cheap, but given there's new regulation for all new homes to have their own EV charging points installed by the developer, you're likely increasing the value of your property. See home EV charge point installation as an investment and it'll seem less expensive. Crudely, the charge point itself can be anything from £500 to £1,500, but the installation of it needs to be done by a specialist and that can bump the price up to £1,000-£1,200 as a ballpark baseline.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?
Costs to charge an electric car have shifted considerably since the escalation in energy prices. While home charging, especially for those on EV friendly tariffs, is still pretty competitive, public charge points have put charging an EV on par with lofty diesel prices - wiping the smug smiles from the faces of those early-adopters. Zap-Map data recently suggested EV drivers were seven times more likely to have solar panels fitted, so perhaps those charging at home and on free work chargers are getting a better deal after all.
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April 17, 2023 at 11:00AM
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What sockets do electric cars use, and what do they mean? - Top Gear
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