| Type | Automotive power connector | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Production history | |||
| Manufacturer | Various | ||
IEC 62196 is an international standard for set of electrical connectors and charging modes for electric vehicles and is maintained by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The standard does not specify the physical dimensions for any particular charging connector. It does however mention IEC 60309 "CEEform" general purpose connectors within the definitions of part 2 (i.e. IEC 62196-2).
The standard is based on IEC 61851 that has a mechanism that does not connect the power unless connected to a vehicle that is immobilized to stop it from driving away while still connected.[1]
The Part-1 definitions for the signal pin and its IEC 62196-1 charging mode definitions have been reused in a number of implementations for charging large devices and especially automotive charging stations. Apart from CEEform industrial plugs, the modes were picked up for
Each of these has been designed for use in an electric vehicle network of charging stations. Other connector types conforming to IEC 62196-1 have been the Framatome plug by EDF, the Scame plug in Italy and the CEEplus plugs in Switzerland.[1]
Public charging stations conforming to IEC 62196 that have a specific socket type (e.g. SAE J1772 or CEEplus) can be used with other plug types by means of adapters - however the current will not be enabled unless a IEC 61851 presence signal pin is connected and the current will be limited to 16 Ampere unless a IEC 62196 charging mode signal is detected that specifies a higher Ampere level.
Contents |
The Part-1 of IEC 62196 is applicable to plugs, socket-outlets, connectors, inlets and cable assemblies for electric vehicles, intended for use in conductive charging systems (cables with copper or copper-alloy conductors) which incorporate control means, with a rated operating voltage not exceeding:
The standard leverages the charging modes as defined in IEC61851-1 which includes:[2]
The IEC 61851-1 standard documents the pilot signal flagging the charging requirements by using pulse width modulation. The pilot signal is integrated in the plugs of IEC 62196 electric vehicle charging equipment being a requirement for higher currents.
Mode 1 charging relates to the connection of the EV to the a.c. supply network (mains) utilizing standardized socket-outlets not exceeding 16 A and not exceeding 250 V a.c. single-phase or 480 V a.c. three-phase, at the supply side, and utilizing the power and protective earth conductors.
Mode 1 connectors do not require any control pins from IEC 61851-1.[3] In many countries there are additional restrictions on household mains being less than 16 A - it is left to the system user to respect the actual charging limits.
In some countries like the USA, mode 1 charging is prohibited by national codes. The main reason is that the required earthing is not present in all domestic installations so that Mode 2 was defined as an interim solution.
Mode 2 charging relates to the connection of the EV to the a.c. supply network (mains) not exceeding 32 A and not exceeding 250 V a.c. single-phase or 480 V a.c. three-phase utilizing standardized single-phase or three-phase socket-outlets, and utilizing the power and protective earth conductors together with a control pilot function and system of personnel protection against electric shock (RCD) between the EV and the plug or as a part of the in-cable control box. The inline control box shall be located within 0,3 m of the plug or the EVSE or in the plug.
Mode 2 connectors require a control pin from IEC 61851-1 but which is only required on the side of the electric vehicle.[3] The supply network side of the cable does not need a control pin and the control function is governed by the control box in the cable. These provisions allow for charging stations with low complexity while extending the permissible range or charging currents compared to Mode 1 charging. A possible setup uses a IEC 60309 connector ready for 32 A - controlled by the diameter of the plug that would not fit in a 16 A socket - with the control pin flagging the charging mode to the electric vehicle. A 1000 Ω resistor is used between pilot and earthing allowing to break the circuit if the current on the pilot-earth loop is lost.[4]
Mode 3 charging relates connection of the EV to the a.c. supply network (mains) utilizing dedicated electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) where the control pilot function extends to control equipment in the EVSE, permanently connected to the a.c. supply network (mains).
Mode 3 connectors according to IEC 61851-1 require a range of control and signal pins for both sides of the cable. The charging station socket is dead if no vehicle is present - the pilot pin in the plug on the charger side controls the circuit breaker. For compatibility the 32 A plugs of IEC 61851-1 Mode 2 connectors (1000 Ω pilot-earth) may be used while fast charging with higher currents up to 250 A require specialized cables flagging the IEC 61851-1 charging mode.[3] The communication wire between car electronics and charging station allows for an integration into smart grid scenarios.[4]
Mode 4 charging relates to the connection of the EV to the a.c. supply network (mains) utilizing an offboard charger where the control pilot function extends to equipment permanently connected to the a.c. supply.
The IEC 62196 accessories encompass the vehicle inlet/connector (all modes) and the plug/socket-outlet (Mode 3).
The scenario for Mode 4 charging is a setup where the supply network a.c. power is converted in the charging station to d.c. and the plug type ensures that only a matching electric vehicle can be connected. Using d.c. fast charging allows for considerable higher currents up to 400 A according to IEC 61851-1 Mode 4.[3] Mode 4 connectors according to IEC 61851-1 require a range of control and signal pins to ensure operation for fast charging comparable to Mode 3. The Mode 4 charging station equipment are however much more expensive than Mode 3 EVSE.[4]
The IEC 62196-1 refers to plugs as specified in IEC 60309 for industrial and multiphase power plugs and sockets.
A number of industry groups have made advancements to add details on specific plugs beyond the existing range IEC 60309 "CEEform" connectors. The CEEform industry connectors are used in many areas while the following plug types from the IEC 62196 annexe have been taylored to the usage as automotive chargers. The IEC 62196-2 contains categorizations on plug types to be used in the charging process. There is an ongoing standardization process to choose plug types for public charging stations of electric vehicle networks. The Formula E-Team in the Netherlands notes that the next IEC 62196-2 edition will probably refer to three designs for Mode-3 plugs including the Yazaki/SAE connector, the VDE/Mennekes connector and the Scame/EVPlug connector.[5]
The plug type standardization in Europe is part of a process including smart grid elements for charging stations as well as battery recharge electronics in the cars. The DKE / VDE has an influence on the IEC and CENELEC standardization with existing range of working groups.[6] In June 2010 the ETSI and CEN-CENELEC were mandated by the European Commission to develop a European Standard on charging points for electric vehicles.[7] The Commission expects that the standard will be ready by mid-2011 including recommendations on the plug types from the IEC 62196-2 range. The IEC 62196-2 circulation started on 17. December 2010 and voting closes on 20. May 2011.[2] The standard was published by the IEC on 13. October 2011.[8]
The list of IEC 62196-2 plug types includes:[9]
In 2001 SAE International had proposed a standard for conductive coupler which had been approved by the California Air Resources Board for charging stations of electric vehicles. The SAE J1772-2001 plug had a rectangular shape that was based on a design by Avcon. In 2009 a revision of the SAE J1772 standard was published that included a new design by Yazaki featuring a round housing. The SAE J1772-2009 coupler specifications have been included to IEC 62196-2 standard as an implementation of the Type 1 connector for charging with single-phase AC. The connector has five pins for the two AC wires, ground and two signal pins compatible with IEC 61851-2001 / SAE J1772-2001 for proximity detection and control pilot function.
Note that only the plug type specification of the SAE J1772-2009 haven been taken over but not the relation to Level 1, 2, and 3 charging modes inherited from the proposition of the California Air Resources Board. The Level 1 charging mode at 120 V is specific to Northern America and Japan as most regions around the world use 220-240V and IEC 62196 does not include a special option for lower voltages. The Level 3 for DC charging is not applicable to either IEC 62196-2 or SAE J1772-2009.
While the original SAE J1772-2009 standard describes ratings from 120V 12A/16A to 240V 32A/80A the IEC 62196 Type 1 specification covers only 250V ratings at 32A/80A. The 80A version of IEC 62196 Type 1 is considered US only however.[10]
The connector manufacturer Mennekes had developed a series of 60309-based connectors that were enhanced with additional signal pins - these "CEEplus" connectors have been used for charging of electric vehicles since the late 1990s.[11][12] With the resolution of the IEC 61851-1:2001 control pilot function (aligned with the SAE J1772:2001 proposal) the CEEplus connectors were replacing the earlier Marechal couplers (MAEVA / 4 pin / 32A) as the standard for electric vehicle charging.[13] When Volkswagen promoted its plans for electric mobility Alois Mennekes contacted Martin Winterkorn in 2008 to learn about the requirements of the charging equipment connectors.[12] Based on requirement of the industry led by utility RWE and car maker Daimler a new connector was derived by Mennekes that would later be accepted as the standard connector by other car makers and utilities for their field tests in Europe.[14] This choice was supported by the Franco-German joint council on E-mobility in 2009.[15] The proposal is based on the observation that standard IEC 60309 plugs are rather bulky (diameter 68 mm / 16A to 83 mm / 125 A) for higher current. To ensure easy handling by consumers the plugs were made smaller (diameter 55 mm) and flattened on one side (physical protection against polarity reversal).[16]
Since the IEC standardization track is a lengthy process, the German DKE/VDE (Deutsche Kommission Elektrotechnik / German Commission for Electronics of the Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) took over the task to standardize the handling details of the automotive charging system and its designated connector published in November 2009 in VDE-AR-E 2623-2-2[17] The connector type has been included in the next Part-2 (IEC 62196-2) connector reference as "Type 2".[14] The standardization process of the VDE plug continues with an extension for high current d.c. loading that will be proposed for inclusion by 2013.[18]
Unlike the IEC 60309 plugs, the Mennekes/VDE automotive solution (German VDE-Normstecker für Ladestationen / VDE standard plug for charging stations) has a single size and layout for currents from 16A single-phase up to 63A three-phase (3.7 kW to 43.5 kW)[19] but it does not cover the full range of Mode 3 levels (see below) of the IEC 62196 specification. Since the VDE automotive connector was described first in the DKE/VDE proposal for the IEC 62196-2 standard (IEC 23H/223/CD), it was also called the IEC-62196-2/2.0 automotive connector before it got its own standardization title. The VDE will formally withdraw the national standard as soon as the international IEC standard is resolved.
There has been criticisms of the price of the VDE connector however by the car manufacturer Peugeot comparing it to the IEC 60309 plugs that are readily available.[20] Unlike field tests in Germany, a number of field tests in France and the UK have taken over the campground sockets (blue IEC 60309-2 plug, single-phase, 230V, 16 A) that are already installed in many outdoor locations across Europe[20] or weatherproofed versions of their normal domestic sockets. Also the Scame plugin is promoted by a French-Italian alliance mentioning its comparable low price.[21]
The Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles (ACEA) has decided to use the Type 2 connector for deployment in European Union. For the first phase the ACEA recommends public charging stations to offer Type 2 (Mode 3) or CEEform (Mode 2) sockets while home charging may additionally use a standard home socket (Mode 2). In the second phase (expected to be 2017 and later) a uniform connector shall be used only, whereas the ultimate choice for Type 2 or Type 3 is left open. The rationale of the ACEA recommendation points to using Type 2 Mode 3 connectors however.[22] Based on the ACEA position Amsterdam Electric has put up the first Type 2 Mode 3 public charging station for use with the Nissan Leaf test drive.[23]
Beginning at the end of 2010 the utilities Nuon and RWE have started to deploy a network of charging poles in Central Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia) using the Type 2 Mode 3 socket type based on the widely available 400V three-phase domestic power grid.
The EV Plug Alliance was formed on March, 28 2010 by electrical companies in France (Schneider Electric, Legrand) and Italy (Scame).[24] Within the IEC 62196 framework they propose an automotive plug derived from the earlier SCAME plugs (the Libera series) that are already in use for light electric vehicles.[25] Gimélec joined the Alliance on May 10 and a number of more companies joined on May 31: Gewiss, Marechal Electric, Radiall, Vimar, Weidmüller France & Yazaki Europe.[26] The new connector is able to provide 3-phase charging up to 32 Ampere as being examined in the Formula E-Team tests.[21] Schneider Electric emphasises that the "EV Plug" uses shutters over the socket side pins which is required in 12 European countries and that none of the other proposed EV charger plugs is featuring.[27] Limiting the plug to 32 A allows for cheaper plugs and installation costs. The EV Plug Alliance points out that the future IEC 62196 specification will have an annexe categorizing electric vehicle charger plugs into three types (Yazaki's proposal is type 1, Mennekes' proposal is type 2, Scame's proposal is type 3) and that instead of having a single plug type at both ends of a charger cable one should choose the best type for each side — the Scame / EV Plug would be the best option for the charger side / wall box leaving the choice for the car side open. On 22 September 2010 the companies Citelum, DBT, FCI, Leoni, Nexans, Sagemcom, Tyco Electronics joined the Alliance.[28] As of early July 2010 the Alliance has completed the test of products from several partners and the plug and socket-outlet system are made available on the market.[28]
While the first ACEA position paper (June 2010) has ruled out the Type 1 connector (based on the requirement of three-phase charging which is abundant in Europe and China but not in Japan and the USA) it has left open the question whether a Type 2 or Type 3 connector should be used for the uniform plug type in Europe.[22] The rationale points to the fact that Mode 3 requires the socket to be dead when no vehicle is connected so that there can be no hazard that the shutter could protect from. The shutter protection of Type 3 connectors do only have advantages in Mode 2 allowing for a simpler charging station. On the other hand a public charging station exposes the charging socket and plugs to a harsh environment where the shutter could easily have a malfunction which is not noticeable to the electric vehicle driver. Instead the ACEA expects that Type 2 Mode 3 connectors also to be used for home charging in the second phase after 2017 while still allowing Mode 2 charging with established plug types that are already available in home environments.[22] The impact of some jurisdictions requiring shutters is still being debated.[29]
The second ACEA position paper (March 2011) recommends to use only Type 2 Mode 3 (with IEC 60309-2 Mode 2 and standard home socket outlets Mode 2 being still allowed in Phase 1 up to 2017) being the EU uniform solution by 2017. Car makers should equip their models only with Type 1 or Type 2 sockets - existing Type 3 infrastructure may be connected with a Type2/Type3 cable in Phase 1 for basic charging (up to 3.7 kW). Fast charging (3.7 kW to 43 kW) and ultra fast DC charging (beyond 43 kW) may only use a Type 2 or Combo2 connector (Combo2 is Type 2 with additional DC wires in a global envelope that fits all DC charging stations, i.e. even if the AC charging part was built for Type 1).[30]
The 2010/2011 voting ballot of IEC 62196-2 does not contain a proposal for DC charging / Mode 4. This is scheduled for the next part of the standards series named IEC 62196-3 with expectations for the proposal to be published in a time frame ranging from June 2012[31] to beginning of 2013[18] and the IEC expecting the functional release in December 2013.[32] The IEC working group for TC 23/SC 23H/PT 62196-3 (max. 1000Vdc / 400A plugs) has been approved for new work.[33][34] Specifications on DC charging have already begun on the national level.
A number of plug types are under consideration for DC charging. The Japanese Chademo plugs have been in use for a number of years already while the common plug type is considered too bulky. China has adopted the Type 2 (DKE) connector adding a mode that puts DC power on existing AC pins. Both of the two connectors use a CAN based protocol between the car and the charging station to switch the mode. In contrast to that both the American SAE and the European ACEA research concentrates on the GreenPHY PLC protocol to plug the car into a smart grid architecture. Both of the latter consider to have a low power / Level 1 configuration where DC power is put on existing AC pins (as specified for the Type 1 or Type 2 plug types respectively) and an additional high power / Level 2 configuration with dedicated DC power pins - the ACEA and the SAE are working on a "Combined Charging System" for the extra DC pins that fit universally.[35][36]
The CHAdeMO specification describes high-voltage (up to 500VDC) high-current (125 Amps) automotive fast charging via a JARI Level-3 DC fast charge connector. This connector is the current defacto standard in Japan.[31] The SAE 1772 Task Force works on a proposal for DC loading to be published in December 2011[31] The extension of the VDE plug ("Type 2") will be submitted directly to the IEC 62196-2 until 2013.[18] Both China and the SAE consider using the Type 2 Mode 4 connector for DC charging as well (the Japanese TEPCO plug housing is considerably larger than Type 2).[37]
The VDE has supplied the National Development Plan for Electric Mobility in Germany with the expectation that charging stations for electric vehicles will be deployed in three stages: 22 kW (400V 32A) Mode 2 stations are introduced in 2010–2013, the 44 kW (400V 63A) Mode 3 stations to be introduced in 2014–2017 and the next generation batteries will require at least 60 kW (400Vdc 150A) by 2020 allowing to charge the standard 20kWh battery pack to 80% in less than 10 minutes.[38] Similarly the SAE 1772 DC L2 plan is sketched for charging up to 200A / 90 kW.[31] Standardization is planned to add DC wires to the existing AC connector types such that there is only one "global envelope" that fits all DC charging stations - for Type 2 the new housing is named Combo2[30] Seven car makers (Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen) have agreed to introduce the Combined Charging System in mid-2012.[39]