Short Answer
Yes, all electric cars in America use the same standard plugs for level 1 and level 2 charging. All electric cars in America also use different plugs – depending on the brand – for faster DC charging.
Long Answer
There are different types of plugs and chargers to charge the battery of your electric vehicle.
Level 1 charging uses a 120V AC outlet with the standard plug that comes with all EVs. This is the slowest type of charging.
Level 2 charging uses a 240V AC outlet with the standard charging port in your car. All EVs also use the same level 2 charging plug and this enables you to charge your EV at any level 2 charging station in America. This charging is much faster and popular in both homes and commercial locations.
The plug in question been used by all EVs for level 1 and 2 charging is the J-plug (J-1772).
Level 3 charging also known as DC fast-charging is the third type of charging using direct current rather than alternating current. This delivers the fastest charging option for EVs. There are 3 types of DC fast chargers:
- CCS
- CHAdeMo
- Tesla Superchargers
CCS is an acronym for combined charging system. A CCS plug is a five-pin plug used by automakers such as Chevrolet, Ford, Mercedes, Volvo, Volkswagen, and BMW.
CHAdeMO is a ten-pin plug popularly used in fast-charging stations. It’s capable of supplying up to 50 kW of power with a current of up to 125A. It is used mostly by vehicles or brands like Nissan Leaf, Kia Soul, Citroen C-Zero, and Honda Fit.
You will notice that some electric vehicles use similar DC chargers when it comes to the CCS and CHAdeMO. But with Tesla superchargers it’s different.
Tesla Superchargers are superb DC chargers that cannot be inserted into other manufacturers’ EVs. In other words, these chargers cannot charge a non-Tesla EV. While this is the current situation, Tesla is working on being able to accommodate other manufacturers.
In conclusion, you can use the same Level and Level 2 chargers across various EVs, including Tesla. But you can only use CCS and CHAdeMO DC chargers with certain electric vehicle brands. Tesla superchargers are for Tesla cars only.
To know precisely which chargers your EV can use, you can find out the port your EV has from your Lease Company, dealer, or handbook.
Need a Deerfield Beach electrician for electric vehicle charger installation or electrical services? Call us today for licensed and experienced contractors in Deerfield Beach.