Are charging piles for all new energy vehicles universal?
2 Answers
In theory, charging piles for all new energy vehicles can be universal. According to the new national standard, the standards for charging plugs of different vehicle models will be the same in the future. Although there may be differences in voltage and power, they can theoretically be used on the same charging pile. Here is some relevant information about charging new energy vehicles: 1. Charging standards: China's electric vehicle charging interface and communication protocol standards GB/T20234-2011 include: GB/T20234.1-2011, GB/T20234.2-2011, GB/T20234.3-2011, and GB/T27930-2011. The release of these four standards marks the unification of charging interfaces at the national level in China. 2. Industry evaluation: After the release of the national standards, newly built charging facilities have been manufactured and installed in accordance with the national standards, and existing charging facilities are gradually updating their interfaces to achieve standardization. However, the current national standards only cover relatively basic aspects such as sockets and interfaces, and there is no unified standard for technical parameters in key parts of electric vehicles, such as voltage and power. The industry's evaluation is that some parameter definitions are vague and the standards are not mandatory.
Not all charging piles for new energy vehicles are universally compatible, which I find quite interesting. When I first bought an electric car, I naively assumed that all charging piles could be used freely. However, after trying different locations, I discovered that some connectors simply didn’t match. For example, some domestic models use the GB/T standard, while European and American models may support CCS or CHAdeMO fast charging. Tesla’s proprietary charging piles are only compatible with their own vehicles unless you use a third-party adapter. Charging piles are also categorized into slow AC charging and fast DC charging, with fast charging being more particular about compatibility. A friend of mine once encountered the awkward situation of a failed charging attempt. What’s the solution? Universal public charging piles are often designed to support multiple standards. For instance, the highway service stations I frequently visit have flexible connectors. It’s best to check the app for compatibility before setting out or carry a converter. The industry is still working on standardizing the norms, but for now, drivers must stay vigilant to avoid unexpected delays in their journeys.
