China: GB/T 20234 — The Domestic Standard Baseline
China's EV charging connector landscape is governed by the GB/T 20234 series, a set of recommended national standards (GB/T, i.e. voluntary, but de facto mandatory for domestic market sales and for vehicles sold in China) published by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC). The series has three active parts:
- GB/T 20234.1:2015 — General requirements for connection set for charging of electric vehicles
- GB/T 20234.2:2015 — AC charging interface (Mode 3 charging, single- and three-phase, up to 32 A, with a 7-pin connector)
- GB/T 20234.3:2015 — DC charging interface (ChaDeMo-style physical form but different protocol; rated up to 250 A, 1000 V DC)
The GB/T 20234.2 AC connector uses a 7-pin format with a distinct physical shape that is not directly interchangeable with IEC 62196 Type 2 (the European AC connector), SAE J1772 (the North American AC connector), or any other international standard connector. The GB/T 20234.3 DC connector likewise uses a proprietary physical form factor distinct from CCS1, CCS2, or CHAdeMO.
For manufacturers exporting EV chargers from China to western markets, the GB/T connector design cannot simply be re-labeled for use in those markets. Hardware modifications — a different connector head meeting the target market standard — are required. The communication protocol underlying GB/T 20234.3 (GB/T 27930 for DC charging control) is also distinct from IEC 61851-1 (general EV charging) and DIN SPEC 70121 / ISO 15118 (the protocol layers used in CCS-equipped chargers).
China has engaged in international standardisation discussions about a next-generation connector standard (sometimes called ChaoJi / HPC, developed jointly with Japan's CHAdeMO association), which is intended to be compatible across China and potentially other markets. As of the knowledge cutoff date, GB/T 20234.3 remains the operative Chinese DC charging standard for deployed infrastructure.
IEC 62196 and CCS: The European and Global AC/DC Standard
IEC 62196 — Plugs, Socket-Outlets, Vehicle Connectors and Vehicle Inlets — Conductive Charging of Electric Vehicles is the international standard series for EV charging connectors. It is a multi-part standard:
- IEC 62196-1:2022 — General requirements
- IEC 62196-2:2022 — Dimensional compatibility and interchangeability requirements for AC pin and contact-tube accessories (covers Type 1 / SAE J1772 and Type 2 / Mennekes connector geometries)
- IEC 62196-3:2022 — Dimensional compatibility and interchangeability requirements for DC and AC/DC pin and contact-tube vehicle couplers (covers CCS1, CCS2, and CHAdeMO geometries, as well as the GB/T format)
Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) is the standard AC charging connector mandated in the EU for new charging infrastructure since 2014 (under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive / Regulation, AFIR). It supports single- and three-phase AC charging at up to 43 kW (three-phase 63 A). Mode 3 charging (defined in IEC 61851-1) is the operating mode for Type 2 AC charging.
CCS2 (Combined Charging System, IEC 62196-3) is the standard DC fast-charging connector in the EU, UK, and Australia. It physically extends the Type 2 AC connector with two additional DC power pins below the AC connector, allowing AC and DC charging from the same vehicle inlet. CCS2 communicates using ISO 15118 (vehicle-to-grid communication, supporting Plug & Charge) or DIN SPEC 70121 (an earlier protocol still in widespread use). Mandatory CCS2 support for new DC chargers in the EU was phased in under AFIR.
For the Australian market, AS/NZS 3000 (wiring rules) and the emerging AS 4777 requirements for grid connection apply to EV charger installations. Australia has adopted IEC 62196 Type 2 for AC charging and CCS2 for DC fast charging as its de facto standards for new public charging infrastructure, consistent with the EU approach.
For the UK market, IEC 62196 Type 2 and CCS2 are likewise the operative standards, with UK-specific requirements for the Charge Point Regulations (requiring open-standard protocols including OCPP 1.6 and smart charging capability).
North America: SAE J1772, CCS1, and NACS
The North American EV charging connector landscape has been in significant transition since 2023 and involves three connector standards of current relevance for exporters of charging equipment.
SAE J1772 — SAE Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler is the standard AC charging connector used in the United States, Canada, and Japan. The Type 1 (J1772) connector supports Mode 3 AC charging at up to 19.2 kW (single-phase 80 A). It is physically the same as the IEC 62196-2 Type 1 connector. SAE J1772 also defines the control pilot communication signal used for AC Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging across North America, which is the same signal (but different connector) as in the IEC 61851-1 European framework.
CCS1 (Combined Charging System, North America) extends the J1772 connector with two DC power pins below the AC connector, enabling DC fast charging. CCS1 is physically distinct from CCS2 (which uses the Type 2 AC connector base). CCS1 communicates via DIN SPEC 70121 or ISO 15118. CCS1 was the dominant DC fast-charging standard for non-Tesla vehicles in North America until 2023.
NACS — North American Charging Standard (SAE J3400) was originally a proprietary connector design that has since been standardised as SAE J3400 and adopted by major US automakers as their vehicle-side connector. The US federal government (Joint Office of Energy and Transportation) and major charging network operators have committed to supporting NACS. As of 2024–2025, new DC fast chargers in the US are increasingly required to support NACS (either natively or via adapter) under federal grant conditions (NEVI program). NACS supports AC charging (similar power levels to J1772) and DC fast charging (up to 1 MW in planned extensions).
For EV charger exporters targeting North America: AC chargers must support J1772 (or include a J1772 to NACS adapter); new DC fast chargers intended for public deployment must support both CCS1 and NACS under current NEVI program requirements; ISO 15118 protocol support is required for Plug & Charge functionality in new federally funded infrastructure. UL 2594 (standard for EV supply equipment) and UL 2231 (personnel protection systems for EV supply circuits) are the primary safety standards for US market certification.
Protocol Compatibility, Interoperability, and Certification Requirements
Physical connector compatibility is a necessary but not sufficient condition for EV charger market access. Communication protocols, certification requirements, and grid interaction standards form additional mandatory layers that differ by market.
Communication protocols. The control communication between a charging station and a vehicle determines whether the charging session can be initiated, monitored, and safely terminated. Key protocols include:
- IEC 61851-1 / Mode 3: Basic control pilot (CP) signalling used in AC charging across EU, UK, Australia, and North America. Electrically compatible across markets despite connector differences.
- DIN SPEC 70121: DC charging communication protocol used in CCS1 and CCS2 chargers as a transitional protocol. Widely deployed but being superseded by ISO 15118.
- ISO 15118: Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication protocol supporting Plug & Charge (automatic authentication), smart charging, and bidirectional (V2G) charging. Mandatory for new publicly funded DC infrastructure in the US (NEVI), required for Plug & Charge in EU, and increasingly required in UK and Australia for smart charging compliance.
- OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol): The back-end communication protocol between charge point management systems (CPMS) and charging stations. OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1 are the operative versions. UK Charge Point Regulations require OCPP 1.6 as a minimum. Many network operators globally require OCPP 2.0.1 for new deployments.
- GB/T 27930: The Chinese DC charging communication protocol. Not used outside China. Chargers using GB/T 27930 must have their communication stack replaced for export to IEC/SAE markets.
Certification requirements for exported chargers.
- EU: CE marking under the Low Voltage Directive (LVD 2014/35/EU) and EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) is required. AFIR mandates smart charging capability and OCPP support. IEC 61851-1 and IEC 62196-series compliance is required.
- UK: UKCA or CE (during transition) marking. Compliance with BS EN 61851-1, BS EN 62196 series, and the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 (requiring OCPP 1.6, smart charging, demand-side response, and data recording).
- US: UL 2594 listing from an NRTL is required for commercial deployment. FCC Part 15 compliance for any wireless/networking components. NEVI program requirements for NACS and ISO 15118 support for federally funded sites.
- Australia: RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS). Compliance with AS/NZS 3000, AS 4777 (grid connection), and the relevant IEC 61851/62196 standards adopted as AS standards. CEC approval for grid-connected systems.