When you are buying your first electric car, there are many things to consider. Charging problem definitely is one of the top troubles you are having. In previous articles, we've talked about how to choose the right charger for your EV. But a lot of people still get confused about the EV charging connectors. So, we are going to elaborate more about different types of charging connectors. Unfortunately, there isn't a one-size fits all EV connector. The EV charging connector standard varies across geographies and models. Therefore it is essential to fully understand the different EV connectors, sockets, and plugs available worldwide. 

Type 1

The SAE J1772 connector is what we usually call a Type 1 connector. It's also referred to as J plug sometimes. This charging standard is used mostly in North America and Japan. It features five pins and can charge up to 80 amps utilizing 240 volts input, providing a maximum power output of an EV charger of 19.2kW. The J1772 EV connector supports Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers. But it's only able to handle 1-phase AC current. The drawback of the Type 1 plug is that it only allows single-phase use and doesn't have an automatic locking mechanism. Add 2 DC charging pins at its bottom, then it's the CCS Combo 1 for DC fast charging. 

Type 2

The Mennekes connector, as well as the IEC 62196 Type 2 connector, is used primarily in Europe. It features seven pins and can charge up to 32 amps utilizing 400 volts input， providing a maximum power output of 22kW. The additional pins allow for 1-phase and 3-phase AC charging for level 2 chargers. The automatic locking between the plug and the EV prevents the charging cable from being removed during charging. Like Type 1, add 2 DC fast charging pins at the bottom, and is known as the CCS Combo 2.

Tesla

Tesla created their own connector which was only used on their vehicles. Depending on which part of the world you are in and which model of Tesla you drive will depend on which Tesla plug you need.