World’s automakers, energy firms agree to standardized electric vehicle plug
04/20/2009, 4:43 PM
By Drew Johnson
The world may not be able to agree upon a single set of standards for crash tests and emission regulations, but automakers and energy firms the world over have reportedly agreed to a single standard when it comes to electric vehicle plugs.
According to Engadget, Germany’s RWE has announced that automakers and energy firms have finally come together on a standard for electric vehicle plugs. The EV plug will use a three-prong, 400-volt design, allowing for universal recharging – no matter the country or even the continent.
According to RWE spokeswoman Caroline Reichert, the standardization of the EV plug will ensure “a car can be recharged in Italy in exactly the same way as in Denmark, Germany or France.” A long list of automakers — including General Motors, Volkswagen, BMW, Fiat, Toyota and Mitsubishi – have signed off on the global plug design, along with a number of energy firms from around the world.
The move to standardize the EV plug should not only reduce headaches for the end user and speed up acceptance, but should also go a long way in cutting costs for the world’s automakers.
04/20, 4:59 PM
posted by:
atoms
hmmm universal car plug, yet they still have different household plugs, and voltages/amperages internationally. It certainly isn’t a step backwards, but nor is it a step forward. A step sideways possibly?
04/20, 5:09 PM
posted by:
No more oil for GM
so the question now is the same as with every other electric equipment: how many different versions will this standardized plug come in?
04/20, 5:17 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Why do they need plugs? I thought all electric cars were charged by hugs and giggles? At least that’s what all the tree huggers have told me.
04/20, 5:22 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
do not accidentally plug your hairdryer into this thing…
04/20, 5:27 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
and yeah, electric cars are powered by hugs and giggles, just as the internet is a series of tubes powered by sarcasm and bitterness with the major purposes of providing a means to douchebag people anonymously and obtain free porn…
04/20, 5:45 PM
posted by:
Borat
Jake, plug are not for charging cars. Those are ear plugs: protects you from Al Gore predicting end of days and Tipper Gore R&R band (yep she was in the band!)
On a serious note it is an important step. Although in Europe electricity is 50 MHz at 220 Volts and in US 60 MHz at standard 110Volts, same plug will allow same car being charge in both places, provided it can either fly or swim.
04/20, 5:52 PM
posted by:
teahead
Whatever. You’ll still need an adapter for what country you’re in if you want to plug it into a wall outlet.
04/20, 6:17 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
They should just use an HDMI connector.
04/20, 6:46 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Now if they can standardize AC adaptors for Cell Phones and Laptop Computers we’ll be all set.
I’m amazed these knuckleheads were able to agree on anything.
04/20, 6:48 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Can they not just make it a standard plug for whatever country the vehicle is being sold in? Doesn’t it make sense to just be able to use a standard extension cord like I’ve got 5 of laying around the house? I guess that would be too simple.
04/20, 7:30 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
In all seriousness though, this opens the way to have a special socket and circuit that you have to install in your garage that is metered at a higher rate than your normal electric charges.
04/20, 7:58 PM
posted by:
A4
…yes HDMI would be brilliant
04/20, 8:00 PM
posted by:
Thunder Chicken
400 volts? How many houses are wired for 400 volts? I know mine is wired for 220, and AFAIK so is just about every other conventional house out there…
04/20, 9:07 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Thunder Chicken, this standardization is primarily for public recharging stations or those to be set up in corporate buildings where 400+ volt wiring will be built in or retrofitted. Unless residential electrical code changes in a few years, homes will be limited to 110-220 volt recharging and the “fuel” port on the car will be able to accept adapters for this. Tesla already does this with their roadsters.
04/20, 9:14 PM
posted by:
doogan54
The voltage is not a problem, either the charging station can step 110 back up to 400 or it can pull it off the 480 from the pole transformer.
04/20, 10:04 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
This pisses me off. Anyone need a Beta copy of Caligula?
04/20, 10:30 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
This is great news. I have several electric cars and 4 different “plugs” for them. Standardization will lead to more public charging stations and facilities that can repair them. The car will “know” what voltage is coming at it, so don’t worry about that. The three prong standard plug is a horrible way to charge and recharge an EV. Over time, the plug connection gets loose and usually ends in a “melted” plug end. And yes Thunderchicken, some home like mine have an extra 400 Volt service for EV loads only. More homes will as electric travel is accepted widely. A few years away although.
04/20, 11:56 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Borat: you might want to take off an “M” in front of your “Hz”…
JohnnyCanuck: huh? This is not your sick pr0n forum…
04/21, 3:21 AM
posted by:
No more oil for GM
info on the standard mess..
http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm
04/21, 9:46 AM
posted by:
HoosierHero
@jdasch1 – “Standardization will lead to more public charging stations and facilities that can repair them.” Exactly. The sooner the industry adopts standards the sooner we can see these products every day on the road. Recharging Stations won’t put the investment into 4 or 5 different technologies, especially as they are sure to be expensive. If there is only one, then the chances for adoption by the mainstream public and businesses are far more likely.
04/21, 1:21 PM
posted by:
MechMatt
Considering you don’t move your house, standardization of wall sockets isn’t a huge issue, other than the minor inconvenience of changing your phone when you travel (which largely doesn’t work seemlessly on other contintents anyways). This is a great step in the right direction, and will definitely speed up acceptance. Who wants to lug a box of adapters around in the trunk? The extra weight hurts your electron milage.