What is BS EN 60721-3-3:2018 ?

Title: What is BS EN 60721-3-3:2018 and How Does it Relate to EV Charging?

The EN 60664-3:2020 standard is a crucial technical specification for ensuring the safe use of electrical equipment and systems. It provides guidelines for insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage systems. However, for electrical vehicles (EVs), the use of alternating current (a.c.) plugs and contact-tube accessories can pose a significant safety hazard. To address this issue, BS EN 62196-2:2017, also known as "Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 2," has been developed. This standard defines physical dimensions and tolerances for EV charging infrastructure components, ensuring easy and reliable connections between EVs and charging stations.

Main Requirements:

BS EN 62196-2:2017 provides the following main requirements for EV charging infrastructure:

Dimensional compatibility: The standard establishes consistent guidelines for the physical dimensions and tolerances of EV charging infrastructure components, including plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors, and vehicle inlets.

Interchangeability: The standard aims to ensure interoperability between EV charging infrastructure components, regardless of the manufacturer.

Safety: The standard emphasizes the importance of electrical safety and provides guidelines for preventing electrical hazards and reducing the risk of fire caused by electrical malfunctions.

Performance: The standard ensures the electrical performance of EV charging infrastructure components, including their ability to handle the required current and voltage levels.

Conclusion:

BS EN 62196-2:2017 is an essential standard for ensuring the safety and interoperability of EV charging infrastructure. By establishing consistent guidelines for the physical dimensions and tolerances of EV charging components, the standard enables easy and reliable connections between EVs and charging stations. Additionally, the standard emphasizes the importance of electrical safety and provides guidelines for preventing electrical hazards and reducing the risk of fire caused by electrical malfunctions. As the use of EVs continues to grow, this standard will play a critical role in ensuring the safe and reliable operation of EV charging infrastructure.