【EV charger standards in Hong Kong】Common EV charger types and EV charging mode
【EV charger standards in Hong Kong】Common EV charger types and EV charging mode
Whether you’re considering or you’ve just invested in an electric vehicle, you should know about the EV charger standard, EV charging mode and 2 EV charger types in Hong Kong.
As EV chargers are fixed electrical installations, they should comply with relevant requirements of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406) and its subsidiary, and the electrical works on the EV charging facilities should be carried out by registered electrical contractors and registered electrical workers of the appropriate grades.
The EV chargers are such complicated electrical fixtures that it is crucial for EV owners to understand more about the available EV charging options, so that they can make informed decisions when choosing and using them.
EV charger standard in Hong Kong
The EV charger standards define charging methods, communication signals, and plug and socket designs. There are four main EV charger standards used in Hong Kong:
- The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the standard adopted by most European EV manufacturers
- The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) of the United States is the standard adopted by most EVs from North America
- GuoBiao (GB) is China’s national standard, and is predominately adopted by China’s EV manufacturers
- CHAdeMO is originally a Japanese standard for direct current (DC) quick charging.
SAE and IEC standards share the same communication protocol between the EV and charger, but use different designs for plug and socket interface. GB operates on a different communication protocol and therefore is not compatible with SAE or IEC.
Common EV charger types
There are 4 types of plug for 2 EV charger types. 2 plugs are for alternating current (AC) charging, which allows charging up to 43 kW; while the other 2 plugs are for direct current (DC) charging, which enables fast charging up to 350 kW.
The two types of AC charger plugs:
- Type 1 is a single-phase plug and is standard for EVs from America and Asia. The charging speed is up to 7.4 kW, depending on the charging power of the EV and grid capability.
- Type 2 plug is a triple-phase plug with three additional wires to let current run through. It charges faster and the highest charging power ranges from 22 kW to 43 kW, depending on the charging power of the EV and grid capability.
The two types of DC charger plugs:
- CHAdeMO is a quick charging system developed in Japan, allowing very high charging capacities and bidirectional charging, with maximum charging power up to 100 kW. Most Japanese and Korean car manufacturers produce EVs compatible with CHAdeMO plugs.
- The CCS plug is a commonly used standard in Europe and North America. It is an enhanced version of the Type 2 plug, with two additional power contacts for quick charging. It supports both AC and DC charging, and allows charging speed up to 350 kW.
4 types of EV charging mode
EV charging modes define the levels of safety and control required during the charging process. The four types of EV charging modes are Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3, and Mode 4.
- Mode 1 is one of the simplest charging modes. The EV is charged directly by an AC current delivered through a standard household electric socket and a charging cable without communicating with the EV’s on-board charger. As the power output is small, this mode is more suitable for a longer period of charging at home or in the office.
- Mode 2 involves a control box that monitors the charging process and provides more safety features while charging. The required fixed electrical installation is similar to that for Mode 1, but the final circuit, protective device and socket outlet for Mode 2 are designed to allow larger charging current up to 32 A.
- Mode 3 involves a dedicated EV supply equipment (EVSA) and a charging cable assembly. Dedicated charging plug, socket and coupler are specially designed for Mode 3 charging. The charging cable assembly allows communication between the EVSE and the EV’s on-board charger to perform continuous safety and security functions such as protective earth conductor integrity, energisation and de-energization of the supply and selection of charging rate. Mode 3 can charge the EV much quicker, by delivering a higher charging current, like 220V/32A, 380V/32A, 380V/63A, depending on the power rating of the EV’s on-board charger.
- Mode 4 provides the highest charging power and fastest charging time. It uses an off-board charger to deliver direct current directly to the EV’s battery bypassing the on-board charger, resulting in high electrical power up to 120 kW and quick DC charging.
Now that EV owners are more aware of the available EV charging standards, EV charger types and EV charging modes , EV owners can decide which option is the best for charging their car before plugging the charging cables.
As EV charger is a complicated, fixed, high-power electrical installation, all electrical works including design, installation, commissioning, inspection, testing, maintenance, modification and repairing must be carried out by registered and qualified contractors. If EV owners wish to install EV chargers at their properties to enjoy the biggest benefits of having EVs, they are suggested to reach out to EV charger professionals with a good reputation of having professional and technical know-how, proven track record of successful EV charger installations and after sales services, and thorough understanding of application procedures.
Lintex, as a leading registered EV charger supplier in Hong Kong and a qualified Tesla and BMW contractor, we specialized in providing one-stop EV charger solution service, from thorough pre-installation evaluation, professional installation, and hassle-free maintenance to excellent after-sales service. We have installed EV chargers for thousands of clients in Hong Kong. Feel free to contact our team for any enquiries.
Contact Lintex to learn more!
Contacts：+852 3428 3663
WhatsApp：+852 6879 7132
Website：https://www.lintexhk.com/
Email：info@lintexhk.com
Address： Unit D, 8/F, Block 2, Wah Fung Industrial Centre, 33-39 Kwai Fung Crescent, Kwai Chung, N.T. Hong Kong
