EV Glossary

Learn about electric vehicles by searching through our EV definitions and industry terminology below.

A

AC Neutral

AC Neutral (N) is a pin connector on charging cables for electric vehicles. It is a standard pin that can be used for single phase and unbalanced loads, as well as balanced 3 phase loads.

C

Control Pilot

A control pilot (CP) is a pin connector on charging cables for electric vehicles. Control pilot pins are used in EV charging cables to negotiate current charging levels.

D

Dumb Charger

A dumb charger is a term used to describe a normal electric vehicle charger that lacks advanced features and connectivity capabilities.

DC Fast Charging

DC fast charging, also known as direct current fast charging, or level 3 charging is a method of quickly recharging electric vehicles.

E

EV

EV is a short acronym for the term Electric Vehicle. An EV can also be used to describe an electric car or car powered by an electric motor or electricity rather than liquid fuel.

EV Charger Voltage

EV Charging Voltage is the pressure of the electricity provided to the charger.

EV Charger Amperage

EV Charging Amps are the strength of the current provided to the charger in amperes.

EV Charging Cables

EV charging cables are the conduits through which electricity is transferred to the battery.

J

Japanese Type 1 Connector

The Japanese Type 1 connector, also known as the J1772 or the SAE J1772 connector, is a standard for electrical connectors used in electric vehicle (EV) charging.

K

kWh

kWh stands for kilowatt-hours and refers to a unit of energy volume output for batteries or capacitors based on time.

L

Level 1 Charger

Level 1 chargers are the most basic and simplest chargers available on the market right now.

Level 2 Charger

Level 2 chargers are fast, reliable and offer the best performance to flexibility for most households and businesses.

Level 3 Charger

Level 3 chargers are the most powerful and fastest chargers available at the moment.

Lithium-ion Battery Technology

Lithium-ion battery technology is a modern type of electricity storage that is featured in most modern EVs and PHEVs.

P

Petrol Electric Hybrid

Petrol electric hybrid or PHEV for short is a term for cars with the ability to run on electricity and/or petrol.

Proximity Pilot

A proximity pilot (PP) is a pin connector on charging cables for electric vehicles. They are one of five pins on a type 1 connector and one of seven pins on a type 2 connector.

Protective Earth

A protective earth (PE) is a pin connector on charging cables for the grounding of excess electricity.

R

Range Anxiety

Range anxiety is a feeling of nervousness EV drivers experience, particularly new ones, about whether their car's battery will have enough charge to reach their destination.

T

Type 2 Cable

A type 2 cable features a seven-pin design. It supports both single-phase and three-phase power supply.

U

Universal Socket EV Charger

A universal socket electric vehicle charger is a type of charger designed to accommodate multiple types of EV charging connectors.

USA Type 1 Connector

USA Type 1 connectors, also known as the SAE J1772, is a standard for electrical connectors.

W

Wall Mounted EV Charging Station

Wall-mounted EV charging stations, often referred to as wallbox chargers, are electric vehicle charging units that are installed onto a wall or a fixed structure.