Inventing EV charging

With the oncoming numbers of plug-in hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), and all-electric vehicles, drivers are going to be looking for places to charge their vehicles.

At present, there is no standard for an electrical connector on a car needing an electric charge. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1772 Task Force is working to set a common specification and configuration for the vehicle charging connection for all cars.

This is the connector for the car-side (not a new wall-socket connection) that is being proposed; there was some misunderstanding about the intent of this in the post on GM's FastLane Blog. The connection to the residential electrical service (for North America, at least) would be with a standard 120v wall outlet.

With SAE J1772, we’re defining what a common electric vehicle conductive charging system architecture will look like for all major automakers in North America, but more importantly, we’re working to resolve general physical, electrical and performance requirements so these systems can be manufactured for safe public use.
Gas stations and fuel fillers on cars have evolved a common infrastructure. Those old enough to remember may recall the changeover when unleaded gas was introduced, and new pump nozzles and fuel fillers were mandated to keep drivers from accidentally putting old, regular gas into cars designed for unleaded. Without such a standard in place for electric vehicles,it would be as though you had to carry your own hose in your car, so that you could fill it with your brand of connector. A common standard will make it easier for public charging locations to have a single connector that can be used for any vehicle, making it faster and easier for electric vehicles to be more widely useable.

Provided by ecogeek.org