The EV charging industry uses many specialized terms and acronyms. Here's your comprehensive guide to understanding the language of electric vehicle charging.
Charging Levels
- L1 (Level 1): Standard 120V AC charging, typically 2-5 miles of range per hour
- L2 (Level 2): 240V AC charging, typically 10-30 miles of range per hour
- L3 / DCFC (Level 3 / DC Fast Charging): High-power DC charging, typically 100-300+ miles of range per hour
Connector Types
- CCS (Combined Charging System): The most common DC fast charging connector in North America
- CHAdeMO: A DC fast charging standard originally developed in Japan
- NACS (North American Charging Standard): Tesla's connector, increasingly adopted industry-wide
- J1772: The standard Level 2 AC connector in North America
Key Terms
- kW (Kilowatt): Unit of power measuring charging speed
- kWh (Kilowatt-hour): Unit of energy measuring battery capacity
- EVCS: Electric Vehicle Charging Station
- EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment): The charging equipment that delivers electricity to EVs
- BMS (Battery Management System): System that monitors and manages EV battery charging
Understanding these terms helps you make informed decisions about EV charging infrastructure and solutions.