EV charging levels and connectors
also: Level 1 · Level 2 · DC fast charging · J1772 · J3400 · NACS · CCS
US EV charging is grouped into Level 1 (120 V AC), Level 2 (208/240 V AC) and DC fast charging, using connectors such as SAE J1772, CCS and SAE J3400.
Level 1 uses a standard 120 V outlet and is slow; Level 2 uses 208/240 V circuits and is the common home and workplace option; DC fast charging bypasses the car's onboard charger to deliver much higher power. North American connectors are in transition: SAE J1772 is the long-standing AC connector, CCS (Combined Charging System) adds DC pins to it, and SAE J3400, the connector formerly known as NACS, has been adopted by many automakers, with adapters bridging the two.
Charging power is limited by the smallest link in the chain: the circuit, the EVSE rating, the cable, and the vehicle's onboard charger (for AC) or battery limits (for DC).
Founder takeaway
Check which connectors and power levels your target vehicles and sites will need over your product's life, given the ongoing connector transition.
engineer review pending