EV Charging Glossary

Paua has gathered some of the most comon EV charging glossary terms to help our customers who are adopting electric vehicles, vans, cars or even trucks. As a leading EV charge card provider Paua hopes that this supports your journey.

A

• AC Charging (Alternating Current Charging) – The most common type of EV charging, typically used for home and workplace charging. AC power is converted to DC (Direct Current) by the vehicle’s onboard charger.
• Active Load Management – A system that dynamically adjusts power distribution to multiple EV chargers to prevent overloading the electricity supply.
• Amp (Ampere, A) – A unit of electric current. The higher the amps, the more electricity flows to charge an EV.
• AER (Approved Electric Rate) – The UK government’s recommended reimbursement rate for employees charging their EVs for business use.
• Autonomous Charging – A future technology where EVs self-navigate to charge points and connect automatically.

B

• Battery Capacity (kWh) – The total amount of energy an EV battery can store, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
• Battery Degradation – The gradual loss of battery capacity over time due to charging cycles, temperature, and usage.
• BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) – A fully electric vehicle powered solely by a battery, without an internal combustion engine.
• Bidirectional Charging – A technology that allows an EV battery to both receive and discharge electricity back to the grid or another device.
• BS EN 61851 – A European standard that defines requirements for EV charging equipment.

C

• CCS (Combined Charging System) – A fast-charging standard that supports both AC and DC charging using a single connector.
• CHAdeMO – A DC fast-charging standard, primarily used by older Nissan and Mitsubishi EVs. Gradually being replaced by CCS in Europe. Also CHAdeMO stands for "CHArge de MOve," which is a pun on the Japanese phrase "O cha demo ikaga desuka," meaning "How about a cup of tea?"
• Charging Curve – A graph showing how an EV's charging speed (in kW) changes over time, typically slowing down as the battery fills up.
• Charge Point Operator (CPO) – A company that owns and manages EV charging stations. Examples include GRIDSERVE, BP Pulse, and IONITY.
• Charging Session – The period during which an EV is connected to a charger, drawing power.
• Charging Speed – The rate at which an EV receives energy, measured in kW (kilowatts).
• Charging Time – The total duration required to charge an EV battery from one percentage level to another.

D

• DC Charging (Direct Current Charging) – Faster than AC charging, DC charging bypasses the onboard charger and delivers power directly to the battery.
• Demand Response – A system where EV charging is adjusted in response to grid demand to balance energy supply.
• Destination Charging – Charging at places where EV drivers stop for extended periods, such as hotels, shopping centres, or offices.
• Depot Charging – Charging EVs at a fleet’s central depot, often overnight, to ensure they are fully charged for daily operations.
• DNO (Distribution Network Operator) – Companies responsible for the electrical grid infrastructure in a specific region, ensuring electricity reaches homes and businesses.

E

• EV (Electric Vehicle) – Any vehicle powered by electricity, including BEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs.
• EV Tariff – A special electricity tariff designed for EV owners, offering lower rates for charging during off-peak hours.
• Efficiency (Wh/km or miles/kWh) – A measure of how much energy an EV uses per mile or kilometre, similar to MPG for petrol/diesel cars.
• eMSP (e-Mobility Service Provider) – A company that provides access to multiple charge points through a single account or app, like Paua. Sometimes called an EMP or MSP

F

• Fast Charging – Typically refers to AC chargers from 7kW to 22kW and excludes DC chargers from 50kW upwards.
• Fleet Electrification – The process of transitioning a company’s vehicle fleet from petrol/diesel to electric vehicles.
• FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) – A vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells instead of a battery.

G

• Grid Capacity – The maximum amount of electricity the local grid can handle without upgrades.
• Grid Connection – The infrastructure that connects an EV charger to the national electricity network.
• Grid Balancing – The process of adjusting electricity supply and demand, often involving smart charging for EVs.

H

• Home Charging – Charging an EV using a dedicated charge point or a standard three-pin plug at home.
• High Power Charging (HPC) – Ultra-fast charging stations that provide 150kW or more, allowing EVs to charge quickly.

I

• ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) – Traditional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, often used in the term "ICE-ing" when an ICE vehicle blocks an EV charging bay.
• IEC 62196 (Type 2, Mennekes) – The standard connector for AC charging in the UK and Europe.
• ISO 15118 – A standard enabling communication between EVs and charge points, supporting Plug & Charge, bidirectional charging, and smart grid integration.

J

• J1772 (Type 1 Connector) – A North American AC charging standard, mainly used by older EV models.

K

• kW (Kilowatt) – A unit of power, used to measure charging speed.
• kWh (Kilowatt-hour) – A unit of energy storage, used to describe battery capacity and energy consumption.

L

• Level 1 Charging – The slowest form of EV charging, using a standard household plug.
• Level 2 Charging – Faster than Level 1, using a dedicated 7kW or 22kW charger.
• Load Balancing – The process of managing electrical demand by adjusting charging power across multiple EVs.
• Lithium-ion Battery (Li-ion) – The most common type of rechargeable battery used in electric vehicles. Known for high energy density, relatively fast charging, and good cycle life. Variants include NMC and LFP chemistries.
• LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) – A type of lithium-ion battery chemistry. LFP batteries are known for their long lifespan, thermal stability, and safety, though they generally have lower energy density than NMC batteries. Increasingly used in entry-level and commercial EVs due to durability and cost-effectiveness.

M

• MCS (Megawatt Charging System) – A high-power charging standard for heavy-duty electric vehicles.
• MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent) – A measure of an EV’s energy efficiency compared to petrol cars.

N

• NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Battery) – A common lithium-ion battery chemistry used in EVs, offering high energy density and performance. Often found in mid to premium EV models.
• Net Zero – The goal of balancing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing them and offsetting remaining emissions.

‍O

• OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) – A communication standard allowing interoperability between charge points and networks.
• OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) – A protocol that facilitates communication between different EV charging networks and service providers. It allows seamless roaming, meaning EV drivers can access multiple charge networks using a single account or card, similar to how mobile phone roaming works. OCPI is commonly used by eMSPs (e-Mobility Service Providers) and CPOs (Charge Point Operators) to enable cross-network charging.
• Off-Peak Charging – Charging during times of low electricity demand to take advantage of cheaper rates.

P

• PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) – A vehicle with both a petrol/diesel engine and a rechargeable battery.
• Plug & Charge – A feature enabled by ISO 15118 that allows an EV to automatically authenticate and start charging when plugged in.

R

• Range Anxiety – The fear of running out of battery before reaching a charging station.
• Regenerative Braking – A system that recovers energy when braking and feeds it back into the battery.

V

• V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) – A bidirectional charging technology that allows EVs to send energy back to the grid.
• V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) – Using an EV’s battery to power external devices.

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