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 conductive charging of electric vehicles and is maintained by the technical subcommittee SC 23H “Plugs, Socket-outlets and Couplers for industrial and similar applications, and for Electric Vehicles” of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets according to this series of standards are used in EV supply equipment according to IEC 61851 series or IEC 62752 and in electric vehicles according to ISO 17409 or ISO 18246.
Most plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets according to this series of standards provide additional contacts that support specific functions that are relevant for charging of electric vehicles, e.g. power is not supplied unless a vehicle is connected and the vehicle is immobilized while still connected.
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 US.