Browse
For Sale
Antiques CollectiblesApparelBaby Kids ItemsBooks · Movies And MusicElectronicsFree StuffGarden OutdoorHealth BeautyHome GoodsHome Improvement SuppliesMusical InstrumentsOffice SuppliesOthersPet SuppliesSporting GoodsTicketToys GamesTransportation
Jobs
AccountingAdministration & Office SupportAdvertising · Arts & MediaBanking & Financial ServicesCall Center & Customer ServiceCEO & General ManagementCommunity Services & DevelopmentConstructionConsulting & StrategyDesign & ArchitectureEducation & TrainingEngineeringFarming · Animals & ConservationGovernment & DefenseHealthcare & MedicalHospitality & TourismHuman Resources & RecruitmentInformation & Communication TechnologyInsuranceLegalManufacturing · Transport & LogisticsMarketing & CommunicationsMining · Resources & EnergyReal Estate & PropertyRetail & Consumer ProductsSalesScience & TechnologySelf EmploymentSport & RecreationTrades & ServicesOther
Property
Property For RentProperty For Sale
Cars
Used CarsOthers
Services
BusinessCraftsDesign And WebEventsHome ImprovementLegalLessonsPersonalPetsPhotographyRepair And Technical SupportWellnessWriting · Translation · And TranscriptionVehicle rentalsOthers
Community
Activities & GroupsArtists & MusiciansClasses & LessonsEventsFriendship & NetworkingLost & FoundRideshareSports TeamsVolunteersTravel & Travel PartnersSkills & Language SwapOther
···
Log in / Register

what is the car charger called

4 Answers
LilahFitz
12/19/25 7:39pm

The device you plug into your car to charge its battery is most commonly called a charger or a charging cable. However, for electric vehicles (EVs), the terminology is more specific. The portable equipment that comes with the car is an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment), which is often mistakenly called the "charger"—the actual charger is built into the car itself. For gasoline cars, the device that jump-starts a dead battery is a jump starter or booster pack.

Understanding the correct terms is crucial for finding the right product. An EVSE is a smart safety interface between your home's electrical outlet and the car's onboard charger. Its job is to safely deliver AC (Alternating Current) power, while the car's internal hardware converts it to DC to charge the battery. The speed of charging depends on the EVSE's power output (measured in kilowatts or kW) and the car's onboard charger capacity.

Here’s a comparison of common charging equipment:

Equipment TypeTypical Power OutputCharging Time for 40 kWh*Primary Use Case
Level 1 EVSE (Standard Outlet)1.2 - 1.4 kW28-34 hoursOvernight home charging, emergency
Level 2 EVSE (Hardwired/Wall Unit)7.2 - 11.5 kW3.5-5.5 hoursPrimary home charging, workplaces
DC Fast Charger (Public Station)50 - 350 kW15-45 minutesRoad trips, rapid top-ups
Portable Jump Startern/an/aStarting a car with a dead 12V battery

*Charging time is an estimate and varies by vehicle model and battery state.

For daily use, investing in a Level 2 home charger is the most significant upgrade for an EV owner, drastically reducing charging time compared to a standard outlet. When shopping, you'll search for terms like "Level 2 EVSE," "wall connector," or "home charging station."

Was this review help?
14
3
Share
DelConnor
12/27/25 7:12pm

Honestly, we just call it the charger. You know, the cord you plug into the car. When my EV’s battery gets low, I say, "I need to plug in the charger." For the little plug-in hybrid, it’s the same thing. The only time I use a different name is for the big battery pack we keep in the garage for emergencies—that’s the "jump starter" in case the regular battery dies.

Was this review help?
3
0
Share
Expand All
KylieAnn
01/04/26 4:04am

Technically, it's an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). Calling it a "charger" is a common misnomer, as the actual charger is inside the vehicle. The EVSE is essentially a sophisticated, safety-certified extension cord that communicates with the car to manage the flow of electricity. This distinction is key for anyone looking to understand how their electric vehicle actually works.

Was this review help?
10
0
Share
Expand All
BentleyMarie
01/11/26 4:01pm

As a new EV owner, I learned the terminology fast. The one that came with the car is the "portable charging cable." I later bought a faster "wallbox" or "home charging station" for the garage. And when I'm on a road trip, I use a "public DC fast charger." So it really depends on the context, but "charging cable" covers the basics.

Was this review help?
4
3
Share
Expand All
More Forum Discussions

What are the hidden features of the BMW 525?

BMW 525 has 26 hidden features. Introduction to the hidden features of BMW 525: After successfully enabling the memory start-stop function, the vehicle will remember whether the start-stop system was turned on or off before the last engine shutdown. For example, if you turned it off before exiting the car, it will remain off the next time you start the vehicle, unlike before when it would default to being on every time. Lock sound: BMW vehicles do not produce any significant sound when locked. Introduction to car hidden features: As the name suggests, these are preset functions hidden by the manufacturer in the vehicle's onboard computer during production. During mass production, manufacturers adopt a 'modular' approach for cost considerations. Later, when assembling and releasing the vehicles, they differentiate between high, medium, and low configurations based on the product positioning or pricing requirements, which largely determines the activation of these hidden functions in the onboard computer. Of course, hidden features excluded due to the vehicle's own hardware limitations.
2
0
Share

Can I Buy a Car in Beijing and Register It in My Hometown to Drive?

Buying a car in Beijing and then registering it in your hometown to drive is possible. Traffic police will not intercept you as long as the cross-regional car purchase complies with relevant automobile purchase regulations, allowing registration in your local area. After purchasing the car from a local 4S store, the owner needs to prepare a temporary license plate, which can be requested from the car dealer or purchased separately, in case of traffic police checks on the road. However, it is crucial to pay attention to the validity period of the temporary plate, as using an expired one may result in insurance claims being denied by the insurer. Before departure, contact the local insurance agent in advance and provide the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the purchased car. Before the new car is registered, basic insurance can be purchased by registering the VIN, including compulsory traffic insurance, third-party liability insurance, and vehicle damage insurance, among other major insurance items. To complete the registration procedures locally, the owner needs to prepare the following documents: 1. Original and copy of the vehicle qualification certificate; 2. Original car purchase invoice; 3. Owner's ID card; 4. Insurance policy. With the above materials ready, you can proceed to the local vehicle management office for vehicle inspection, payment of vehicle purchase tax, license plate selection, and processing of the vehicle license, among other procedures.
20
5
Share

How Long Does It Take to Receive a Red Light Violation Notification?

After running a red light, you will generally receive a notification within about 3 to 7 days, with the latest being around 13 days. However, some cities now offer "instant electronic police capture alerts," where you can receive an SMS notification within 5-10 minutes of being captured. However, the notification does not equate to a violation; it is merely a capture alert. The final determination of whether it constitutes a violation takes 3-7 days. If it is indeed a violation, you will receive another SMS notification. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners usually do not receive the violation SMS immediately; there is a delay, and the duration may vary. After the electronic camera captures the violation, the relevant violation information needs to be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center, where it is compiled and then verified by the relevant traffic police department staff. Once confirmed as a violation, the system automatically retrieves the vehicle owner's phone number based on the license plate information and sends the violation details via SMS to the owner. After receiving the violation SMS, the vehicle owner must settle all previous violations within one month before the annual vehicle inspection. Generally, if a vehicle owner suspects they have committed a violation, they can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation SMS is received beyond 15 days, it is likely that no violation was recorded. Traffic Violation Query Methods: Traffic violation queries refer to checking motor vehicle violations of traffic management through online or terminal methods. Vehicle violation queries can be conducted via vehicle violation websites, phone calls, SMS, mobile apps, or offline terminals. Website Query: Search for "vehicle violation query" and enter vehicle information to check. Phone Query: Dial local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 to confirm traffic violations. Violations can only be processed at the location of the violation or the vehicle's license plate issuance location. For on-the-spot violations, such as those directly caught by traffic police, they must be handled at the violation location. SMS Query: Open the SMS interface on your phone, enter "WZ [license plate number] [license plate color]" in the message body, and send it to 1062650001. Mobile App Query: Open the Traffic Management 12123 app, click "More," select "Violation Query," find any unprocessed violations, and clear them. Offline Terminal Query: Visit the local traffic management hall and use the self-service query machine to enter the license plate number and check recent violation records.
18
3
Share

Is ETC mandatory to apply for?

It is not mandatory to apply for ETC. Vehicles without ETC can still use highways. According to the regulations of the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual lanes. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they need to be activated first. During free holiday periods, vehicles with ETC can still use highways, and ETC users passing through ETC lanes will not be charged. ETC Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the computer network technology is used to settle accounts with banks in the background. This achieves the purpose of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay tolls, all based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles passing through toll stations without stopping can reduce noise and exhaust emissions, minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improved efficiency: The efficiency of vehicles passing through ETC lanes can theoretically increase by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more updated, faster, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also explicitly set the goal of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period. More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote the use of ETC for trucks in the future. The deep integration of the ETC system with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road coordination, and other smart transportation development directions will be explored to provide car owners with comprehensive travel services. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications.
15
1
Share

At How Many Kilometers Should a Car Be Scrapped?

Cars are categorized into private vehicles and commercial vehicles, with their normal scrapping periods specified as follows: Regulations for scrapping private vehicles: For 5-seat family cars and 7-seat SUVs, as well as non-commercial small and mini vehicles, there is no usage lifespan. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping. Apart from the aforementioned vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger cars, large non-commercial cars, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage lifespan restrictions. Common regulations for scrapping commercial vehicles: Small and mini taxi passenger cars have a scrapping period of 8 years, medium-sized taxi passenger cars have a scrapping period of 10 years, and large taxi passenger cars have a scrapping period of 12 years. Public transport passenger cars have a scrapping period of 13 years, other small and mini commercial passenger cars have a scrapping period of 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger cars have a scrapping period of 15 years; mini commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 8 years, while light and large commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 10 years. The vehicle scrapping process is as follows: First, the car owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out an "Application Form for Vehicle Modification, Transfer, Alteration, Suspension, or Scrapping" and stamp it with the owner's seal. Then, wait for the registration acceptance counter to issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" for vehicles that have reached the scrapping age. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping age, the vehicle inspection counter will determine if they meet the scrapping standards and issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" accordingly. Next, the owner can choose a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle. The recycling company will verify the "Notice," dismantle the vehicle, and take photos, ensuring that the engine is separated from the vehicle, the engine block is broken, and the chassis is cut. Finally, the owner must submit the "Modification Form," "XX Province Vehicle Renewal Technical Appraisal Form," "Scrapped Vehicle Recycling Certificate," and photos of the dismantled vehicle to the vehicle inspection counter for verification and signature. The license plates will be reclaimed, and the case will be submitted for approval as per regulations, completing the scrapping registration. Scrapping regulations for private vehicles state that 5-seat family cars and 7-seat SUVs, as well as non-commercial small and mini vehicles, have no usage lifespan. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping.
10
2
Share

How Many Times Can You Retake the Subject 1 Test?

There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the Subject 1 driving test. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," you can take the Subject 1 test twice on the same day. If you fail the first attempt, you can retake it for free the second time. If you fail the second attempt, the Subject 1 test will be terminated, and you can only schedule another test after ten days. Subject 1, also known as the theoretical driving test or driver theory test, is part of the motor vehicle driving license assessment. The test covers driving theory basics, road safety laws and regulations, local regulations, and related knowledge. The test is computer-based and has a time limit of 45 minutes. The passing score for the Subject 1 driving test is 90 out of 100. The test consists of 100 questions, including single-choice and true/false questions, with each question worth 1 point. If you answer 11 questions incorrectly during the test, the system will automatically submit the test and end the session. Subject 1 test content includes: driving license and motor vehicle management regulations; road traffic conditions and rules; road traffic safety violations and penalties; road traffic accident handling regulations; basic knowledge of motor vehicles; local regulations; knowledge of braking systems and safety devices for large and medium-sized passenger and freight vehicles; specialized knowledge for wheeled self-propelled machinery, trams, and trolleybuses. Subject 1 test precautions: During the test, candidates should dress appropriately (no slippers), avoid bringing electronic devices or bags into the exam room, carry their ID card, and queue to enter the waiting hall. Observe the precautions and procedures displayed on the screen, and store personal belongings in lockers before entering the exam room. After entering, verify your identity at the assigned station, begin the test, and ensure the camera is aligned with you while adhering to exam rules. If you fail the first attempt, you can retake it the same day. If you fail the retake, you must pay to reschedule. After the test, queue to collect and sign your score report—unsigned reports are invalid. There is no limit to the number of times you can reschedule the Subject 1 test. Each subject allows one retake if you fail the first attempt. If you skip the retake or fail it, the test session ends, and you must reschedule. In contrast, Subjects 2 and 3 allow only five attempts each, with rescheduling permitted after ten days. If you fail the Subject 3 safe driving knowledge test, your previously passed road driving skills test results remain valid. The driving test consists of three subjects: Subject 1, Subject 2, and Subject 3. Subject 1 refers to the road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge test; Subject 2 refers to the field driving skills test; Subject 3 is divided into two parts: road driving skills and safe driving knowledge test. The safe driving knowledge test is conducted after Subject 3, so it is commonly referred to as Subject 4, though the official term (under the Ministry of Public Security Order No. 123) does not include "Subject 4."
4
3
Share
Trending Ranking
How to Reset the Maintenance Reminder for Volkswagen?
Where is the car engine coolant located?
Is the Lynk & Co 03 a domestic car?
4
What is the difference between a three-cylinder car and a four-cylinder car?
5
What causes the Haval M6 to not accelerate?
6
Is the Mercedes-Benz C260's interior space small?
7
How to reset the maintenance reminder on the Changan CS75?
8
What causes the rear charging panel of the Audi A4L to fall out?
9
How soon can I retake the Subject 2 test?
10
What Causes White Smoke from a Diesel Engine?
More Forum Discussions

Where is the engine number of the Yujie 330 new energy vehicle located?

6
4
5

What Causes Oil Leakage in Audi A3 Transmission?

6
2
5

Where is the engine number located on the Yujie 330 new energy vehicle?

7
2
5

Where is Jeep from?

5
2
5
About Us
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Help
Contact Us
FAQ
Cookie
Cookie Policy
Cookie Settings
© 2025 Servanan International Pte. Ltd.