Standard Plug for Plug-in Hybrids To Be Finalized Soon
Apr 27, 2009
Automakers including General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Tesla Motors this month agreed to a common standardfor the all-essential plug for their plug-in hybrids. The standard, known as SAE (Society of Automotive Experts) J1772, can charge at either 120 V or 240 V and deliver up to 70 amps at the higher voltage.The standard will also support communication over power lines, which will help with vehicle identification and load shifting of these vehicles.It has 5 pins, 2 for power, 2 for communications, and 1 for ground.
It is also interesting to note that the plug standard is not all that new. For example, a PDF file from AC Propulsion, Inc.,documents a similar plug from 1999.
While it is a great development for plug-in hybrids, there are some practical limitations.For example, a 50 kW Tesla motors battery would take three hours to charge, even under the maximum power rating of this system.Even smaller plug-in hybrids would take half an hour or more.
As an engineer, it has been my pipe dream to have batteries that could handle a higher voltage / amperage. But for that to happen, the plug standard would have to change.
The European standard, while omitting the 2 prongs for communications, has a 400 V rating, which may allow it to deliver more power.Although this would be incompatible with most US residential electrical systems, it leaves the open question as to whether or not commercial charging stations in the US could be viable at a higher voltage.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to spend three hours at a gas station waiting for my car to charge.
A common plug standard is great news. But the comment about not wanting to wait 3 hour at a gas station for your car to charge doesn't appear to be relevant. This isn't intended to be for that purpose. Take the time you are willing to wait to plug in your car at an 'electricity station', and back calculate the specs required for such a battery. We are many years away from that. Charging is going to take place in homes and parking garages.
Saket V - 04/28/2009 - 14:40
plug in time
1. Most auto trips are commutes, shopping, errands...An entire days worth of trips may amount to 30 to 100 miles, which is well withing the range of many electric (certainly electric hybrid) vehicles. Then the car can recharge overnight, while base load electricity is plentiful and cheap. For long commutes, the car can charge while the driver is at work (generally more than 3 hours) So a 3 hour charge time is not a barrier. There is also the option of switching batteries en-route.
joe chicago - 04/28/2009 - 21:41
Lots of Volts
While the primary idea for EV charging would indeed be several hours overnight, the capacity for a half-hour charge at 400V seems really really appealing. It would make long-distance EV travel realistic, rather than being limited to commuter use. Nissan's 'soon-to-be-released' EV claims 80% charge in half an hour at ~400V (if I remember correctly). Put a 400V charging station at a Taco Bell on the highway (charge during lunch) and you've got yourself an EV road trip.
Even if a typical member of the public doesn't actually need that capacity, it would make EV's a lot less 'strange' and thus broaden their mass appeal.
Tom S - 05/01/2009 - 07:52
lots of volts
If you plugged in at Taco Bell, you would still be getting gas as well as charging your vehicle with electricity.....
Plug in hybrids recharge the batteries as they travel, as do pure hybrids.
plug in hybrids have the advantage of an extended travel distance using only electricity, which extends their MPG, but once you hit the highway, everytime you take your foot off the gas, regeneterative power generation takes over and boosts the battery. In a PHEV you would never be stranded at the side of the highway with your plug in your hand.
The author seems to be confusing Pure EVs with PHEVs.
Dave Watts - 05/06/2009 - 08:02
Up to 400V
The European standard is up to 400 volts, if you want to charge with a single phase (240V in Europe) you can, the plug is compatible with 1 phase systems (common in the south of Europe)
NVT - 05/06/2009 - 08:20
We already have a standard plug
We already have a standard plug for charging PHEV and electric vehicles, it is the standard three-prong, 15 AMP electrical plug. Requiring a special plug will make it more difficult to plug into any standard wall outlet. Most daily commutes do not require rapid charging. Besides, an overnight charge only takes 10 seconds; five seconds to plug it in when you get out of the car in the evening and five seconds to unlug it before you go to work in the morning :-)
James White - 05/06/2009 - 11:31
What's your service?
Even with a 200 amp service, 70 amps is a pretty big piece out of it. With a 100 amp service, don't charge while cooking Thanksgiving dinner and drying clothes! This plug seems great for residential charging. That being established, commercial fast-charging needs something else. Let's reflect that your battery and charger have to be built to charge that fast, so we can probably leave development of the whole fast-charging scheme for the future, and just make clear that we expect sensible, open and foresighted standards. (Regarding foresight, maybe good old 2,400 volts is the answer, as in 4,160Y/2,400, retaining the scheme already mentioned for homes.)
Pete Cann - 05/09/2009 - 16:48
Standard Plugs -- Progress?? YES!!
Dudes: Progress is sometimes progress.
Let's go with it and see what develops.
There is always a better way. eg. the Johnson rifle vs the M1 rifle, which won WW II. Let's give it a chance.
Ricardo del Norte - 06/05/2009 - 13:03
European plug w 400v better fits my needs
400v 63A for the European plug means 25.2KW per hour, if my maths are right (Triphased does not change that right ?). The zero emission full EV of my dreams, fully replacing my current BMW and provide >600Km on a charge, would require at least 100 KWh of batteries inside, set one way or another. Means if a monolytic battery, it would require 4 x hours of charge on the European Plug (1/2 days, much better than US but still too long. Ok for overnight stops at home but for long journeys during the day it may still require a battery replacement skeme). Of course is the battery could be split into 2 x 50KWh half packs, and we could connect them to 2 x charging plugs concurrently, we could charge in 2h, or even 1h if split into 4 x modules of 25KWh each concurrently connected to 4 x plugs. That would be much more acceptable (time for a lunch brake on the motoway). Personally I'd hate having to swap my batteries. So plug and recharging time are key. US plug seams designed for short term hybrids only, not meant to last for full EVs. Too bad this lack of ambition and trust on batteries maker to provide required >100KWh packs at a reasonnable cost withing 10 years (EESTOR ?).
We're getting mixed signals about the vitality of the smart grid market. On the one hand, the recent DistribuTECH conference was one of the most successful ever. On the other, a well-known Wall Street analyst recently told his clients that the smart metering sector is "facing several headwinds," including weak regulatory support in the U.S. and delays in European adoption. Taking the pulse of the smart grid industry is this week's Tuesday Topic.
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