IEC 62196

IEC 62196 Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles is a series of international standards that define requirements and tests for plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets for the conductive charging of electric vehicles. It is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and is developed and maintained by its technical committee TC23 subcommittee SC23H (which prepares standards for Plugs, Socket-outlets and Couplers for industrial and similar applications, and for Electric Vehicles).

Accessories (that is plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets as defined by IEC 62196) together with their cable assemblies provide physical connections between electric vehicle supply equipment (abbreviated EVSE, as defined by IEC 61851 or by IEC 62752) and electric vehicles (abbreviated EV, as defined by ISO 17409 or by ISO 18246).

Accessories have contacts that conduct electricity, and according to ISO62196 most connectors also provide additional contacts that support specific functions that are relevant to charging of electric vehicles, e.g. to ensure that power is not supplied unless a vehicle is connected and is immobilized.

Several parts of this series of standards have been published as European Standards (EN 62196 series), which in turn have been published as British Standards (BS EN 62196 series). Similar requirements are contained in SAE J1772, which is widely applied in the United States.