What issues do temperature sensors for charging piles (chargers) face?

Release Date:

2022-07-04

Author:

Q: What are the differences between our charging gun’s Chinese national standard and the European, U.S., and Japanese standards?

A: Currently, globally speaking, charging standards are broadly categorized into three types based on the connector: the U.S. standard, the European standard, and the Chinese standard. From a technical standpoint, these boil down to either DC (direct current) or AC (alternating current) charging standards. Moreover, different vehicle brands may adopt varying charging standards. In terms of connectors, the so‑called “U.S. standard” refers to the SAE J1772 AC charging standard, while the “European standard” denotes the Mennekes Type 2 connector used by Tesla in Europe. The most obvious visual distinction between these two standards lies in the number of pins in the connector. Each pin, or “pole,” serves a specific function; not all of them are dedicated to transmitting electrical power.

SAE J1772 is merely an umbrella term that encompasses four sub‑standards, featuring three distinct connector designs. Among these, both the AC and DC charging standards are further divided into Level 1 and Level 2 specifications, which primarily differ in their output power. The third standard, known as the “European standard” or Type 2, corresponds to the U.S. “Type 1” standard. This is the charging interface used on Tesla vehicles sold in Europe and likewise comes in both AC and DC variants.

As for the “national standard” (GB/T), it is applicable only within China and thus has a geographically limited scope. From a technical standpoint, the GB/T standard is essentially an adaptation of the European standard. Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, it is a “recommended” standard and does not carry administrative enforcement power. This is one of the key reasons why charging standards across different regions in China remain fragmented and lack uniformity.

Next, let’s focus on DC charging standards. DC standards are divided into three main categories: the Japanese CHAdeMO standard, the Chinese national DC charging standard, and the CCS standard. CCS stands for Combined Charging System; strictly speaking, it is a charging technology rather than a charging standard. The advantage of CCS is its compatibility with both DC and AC charging—BMW’s i3, for example, uses this type of connector. It’s worth noting that the text mentions two specifications, Type 1 and Type 2, which are part of an IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) certification system. For the same charging standard, both IEC and SAE have issued certifications, though they use different names.

For charging guns that adhere to different standards, their designs share certain similarities as well as distinct differences. For example, the Chinese‑standard AC charging gun and the European‑standard AC charging gun have common features: they use identical pins and receptacles, and both incorporate a temperature sensor in the gun head. However, they differ in several key aspects: the voltage rating is 250 V; the European‑standard gun includes a mechanical lock and microswitches, with the pins mounted directly on the gun head. Through comparative analysis, the design effort for the Chinese‑standard AC charging gun is slightly greater than that of the European‑standard AC charging gun. In terms of complexity, the European‑standard design does not present any reduction; its challenges lie in the connection between the plug and the main body, as well as in sealing performance and ease of assembly—areas that require tailored solutions from product‑structure engineers. By contrast, the Chinese‑standard AC charging gun places greater emphasis on the structural integrity of the main body. Although the two approaches differ in focus, their ultimate goal is the same: to deliver an exceptional user experience.