Why Charging Inlets are Critical to EV Innovation

For EV consumers, most of whom will be first-time buyers in the next several years, the charging inlet will be at the center of a new driving experience. 

No longer will drivers simply pull into a service station, gas up within minutes, and be on their way. Today, EV drivers have to adjust to longer charging times, which can range from 20 to 60 minutes at fast-charging stations and longer for at-home charging.

Automakers, for their part, face an array of challenges. As OEMs counter consumers’ range anxiety by including larger batteries in their vehicles, they will also need charging inlets that can safely provide a higher level of electric power to keep charging times down and use temperature feedback to optimize charging rates. 

At the same time, they are looking for charging inlets that are easy to assemble and install while remaining adaptable to a wide range of requirements — including a variety of regional standards, electrical architectures and vehicle platforms.

In addition, OEMs must consider how the charging inlets will hold up over time. Technicians will require a service-friendly design that avoids complex and expensive repair procedures, such as replacing an entire wiring harness.

As a defining element of EV technology, charging inlets require an intelligent design approach that can address all of these challenges.