Charging modes 1–4

Example

Use in Lemonergy

Separate compatibility from requested average power.

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Charging levels 1–3

The North American shorthand for charging power: Level 1 is a 120 V household outlet, Level 2 a 240 V AC charger up to about 19 kW, and “Level 3” the informal name for DC fast charging. It maps roughly onto the IEC modes used elsewhere.

Control pilot

The signal wire in an AC or CCS charging connector: the charger puts a ±12 V square wave on it whose duty cycle tells the vehicle the maximum current, and the vehicle answers by switching resistors. The proximity pilot beside it tells the vehicle a plug is inserted.

Electric vehicle supply equipment

The charging equipment between the grid and the vehicle: an AC wallbox that only switches and protects the supply, or a DC charger that also converts it. It enforces the current limit, ground-fault protection and communication with the vehicle.

IEC 62752

The IEC standard for the in-cable control and protection device of a portable mode 2 charging cable — the box that detects residual current and disconnects the supply, protecting the user when a vehicle is charged from a household socket. The 2024 second edition adds temperature monitoring of the household plug.

SAE J1772 and IEC 62196

The standards that define charging connectors: J1772 Type 1 and the IEC 62196 Type 2 plug for AC, and the Combined Charging System that adds two DC pins below them. Europe mandates Type 2 and CCS2; North America is moving to the NACS connector.

AC slow charging

Charging through the vehicle’s onboard charger from an AC socket or wallbox, at a few kilowatts up to 22 kW. It takes hours, keeps the cells cool and gently loaded, and is how most private cars are charged.

References & further reading

Further reading on this topic

These sources provide broader context; they are not presented as citations for every statement in this entry.

1. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

   U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center

   Topic background · U.S. charging equipment levels, charging infrastructure and connector context. Regional terminology varies.