AC Charging

AC (alternating current) charging is standard for all electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrids. AC charging protects the battery and extends the lifespan of an electric vehicle. With AC, charging is slower than with DC (direct current) charging, but not every electric vehicle has a fast charging port. Most plug-in hybrids only support AC charging.

AC charging is convenient because you can charge practically anywhere from a regular household outlet known as Schuko. Many electric vehicles come with a Schuko charging adapter, and for those that don’t, one can be easily purchased from online stores as well as from us. The maximum AC charging power is 43 kW. When charging from an AC source, the so-called “onboard” charger is used, which is built into every electric vehicle. It converts alternating current into direct current with conversion losses of up to 10%. One of the key parameters when choosing an electric vehicle should certainly be the power of the onboard charger, which determines how quickly it can be charged from the much cheaper and more widely available AC charging stations.

There are several types of AC outlets not specifically designed for electric vehicles:

  • Single-phase 3.7 kW (230V 16A) - household outlet known as Schuko
  • Single-phase 7.4 kW (230V 32A) - industrial CEE Blue
  • Three-phase 11 kW (400V 16A) - industrial CEE Red 16
  • Three-phase 22 kW (400V 32A) - industrial CEE Red 32

Charging with CEE Blue and CEE Red has not become widespread because such adapters are difficult to obtain, and locations where you can charge using these adapter types are limited to their intended industrial use.

There are two main types of specialized charging ports on the market: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 (J1772)

This connector type has been known since the early days of electric vehicles. The Type 1 connector is primarily used in the USA and Japan, but it can also be found in Europe on vehicles imported from those countries. With Type 1, you can charge up to 19.2 kW from single-phase 240V at 80A. Cables and adapters are available for charging from Type 1 to Type 2, allowing you to charge at stations equipped with a Type 2 port.

Type 2 (IEC 62196)

The Type 2 connector is widely used practically worldwide and is one of the main charging connector types, allowing charging up to 43 kW at 400V three-phase current with 63A per phase.

Type 3 (Alliance)

In France, many charging stations use the EV Alliance Type 3C socket. The reason France adheres to this socket is that French law requires every publicly accessible electrical outlet to have a physical cover so that people cannot be exposed to electricity when touching the socket. Cables are available in single-phase and three-phase versions with Type 3 connectors on the station side and Type 1 or Type 2 connectors on the vehicle side. It is rarely used in other countries, but you may encounter this socket type when purchasing an electric vehicle from France or Italy.

From the values listed above, it is clear that the most efficient AC charging is achieved from a charging station using 3x230V (three-phase 400V) and a maximum current of up to 32A per phase, which is equivalent to 22 kW. The only vehicles capable of charging at 43 kW are the Renault ZOE Q version and the Samsung SM3 Z.E.

Whenever you connect an electric vehicle using a Schuko adapter, make sure it is actually charging. Many regular outlets lack proper grounding, and the charging adapter will display an error and will not allow the electric vehicle to charge.

When charging with a Type 2 to Type 2 cable, there are specific characteristics and variants that determine the charging power. The cable cross-section is the primary factor in power capacity. You can identify the charging power from the cable markings, for example: 3G2.5mm2 (3 power wires: 1 phase, neutral, ground) + 2x0.5mm2 (signal).

Type 2 to Type 2 cable types:

    1. 3G2.5mm2 + 2x0.5mm2 - 4.6 kW, single-phase, 20A. Most plug-in hybrids and some electric vehicles such as Volkswagen e-Up, Skoda CITIGOe, Smart, and others charge with this cable type.
    1. 5G2.5mm2 + 2x0.5mm2 - 13.8 kW, three-phase, 20A. Vehicles such as Tesla Model 3, Mercedes B250e, BMW i3, and others charge with this cable type.
    1. 3G4mm2 (or 6mm2) + 2x0.5mm2 - 7.4 kW, single-phase, 32A. Almost all Korean and American electric vehicles charge with this cable type.
    1. 5G4mm2 (or 6mm2) + 2x0.5mm2 - 22 kW, three-phase, 32A. Electric vehicles such as Tesla Model S/X, Renault Zoe, and others charge with this cable type.

The signal wires for communication between the station and the vehicle do not affect the charging power.

Most AC charging stations deliver 22 kW (400V, 32A).

This information was compiled from our personal experience!