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

Understanding plug in hybrid how to charge is fundamental for any owner of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) to maximize the vehicle's fuel efficiency and electric driving range. The process is simple and mirrors the charging of a pure electric vehicle, but with the added flexibility of a gasoline engine backup. There are three primary ways to charge a PHEV, ranging from the most basic to the most convenient. The first and most accessible method is Level 1 charging using a standard household outlet. Every PHEV comes with a portable charging cord, often called an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) cord. One end of this cord is a standard plug that fits into any common wall outlet—a 120V outlet in North America or a 230V outlet in Europe and other regions. The other end is the charging connector that plugs into the vehicle's charging port. To charge, the driver simply plugs the cord into the wall outlet and then connects it to the car. This method is very slow, typically adding only about 2-5 miles of range per hour, but it can fully charge a PHEV's smaller battery (typically 5-20 kWh) if left plugged in overnight. The second and recommended method for those with a dedicated parking spot is Level 2 charging. This requires a professionally installed 240V charging unit (in North America) or a 230V three-phase unit (in Europe). The process is the same: plug the charger's connector into the car. A Level 2 charger can fully charge a PHEV battery in 2-4 hours, making it ideal for a top-up during a workday or an evening at home. The third method is using public charging stations. PHEVs are compatible with the same public Level 2 AC stations used by pure EVs, which are commonly found in parking lots, garages, and workplaces. The driver simply uses their own charging cable or the one attached to the station, plugs it into the car, and follows any authentication steps (like using an app or RFID card) required by the network. Some newer PHEV models are also beginning to offer DC fast charging capability for even quicker top-ups on the go. The hardware enabling all these methods must be reliable and safe. JONHON OPTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. manufactures the high-quality charging inlets on the vehicle that are designed for thousands of plug-in cycles. For more information on our solutions, please contact us.