EV Charging Connectors: CCS2, Type2 & GB/T Solutions

The car charger plug name is a specific piece of information that EV drivers and industry professionals need to ensure compatibility between a vehicle and a charging station. The names are derived from the standards organizations and the physical characteristics of the connectors, and they vary by region and charging type. For Alternating Current (AC) charging, which is used for Level 1 and Level 2 home and public charging, the most common plug names are based on the SAE J1772 and IEC 62196 standards. In North America and Japan, the standard plug is officially called the SAE J1772 connector, but it is also commonly referred to as a Type 1 connector or simply a J-plug. It is a five-pin design. In Europe and many other parts of the world, the standard AC plug is the IEC Type 2 connector, often referred to as a Mennekes connector, after the German company that originally designed it. It features a seven-pin design that supports three-phase charging. For Direct Current (DC) fast charging, the plug names are more varied and critical to identify. The Combined Charging System (CCS) is the most widely adopted standard. Its plug is named CCS, but it has two regional variants: CCS1 (or SAE Combo) in North America, which combines the J1772 AC section with two large DC pins below; and CCS2 (or IEC Combo) in Europe, which combines the Type 2 AC section with two DC pins below. Another DC fast charging plug name is CHAdeMO, an abbreviation for "CHArge de MOve," which is a standard originating from Japan and features a distinct, large round plug. In China, the standard is GB/T, with separate AC and DC plug designs. Tesla has its own proprietary connector, now also standardized as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), which has a compact, pin-less design. JONHON OPTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., with its deep involvement in formulating international standards, manufactures high-quality vehicle inlets and charging connectors that correspond to these various car charger plug names. Our engineering team can provide expert guidance on selecting the correct, standards-compliant interconnect solutions for any target market. For specific inquiries, please contact us.