What charging modes are available?

What does “charging mode” actually mean?

The charging mode describes the technical way in which electricity is transmitted between the power source (e.g. socket or charging station) and the electric vehicle. It determines how communication between the vehicle and the charging point works, whether safety mechanisms are integrated and the charging power. In Europe, the IEC 61851-1 standard defines four different charging modes – from simple socket solutions to intelligent fast charging systems.

Charging mode 1 – Charging at the household socket

In charging mode 1, the electric car is charged directly via a normal household (Schuko) or CEE socket. This variant is suitable at most for test purposes or infrequent emergency charging, as there is no communication between the vehicle and the power source.

• – Charging power: up to 3.7 kW (alternating current)

• – Plug types: Type 1 or type 2

• Disadvantage: no interlock, no protection against overload or cable erosion. Due to the lack of safety mechanisms, mode 1 is no longer recommended today .

Charging mode 2 – Charging with integrated protection in the cable

In charging mode 2, the vehicle is still connected to a normal socket, but the charging cable contains an In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) – a small control unit that monitors the flow of electricity and enables communication between the vehicle and the power source.

• – Charging power: up to 22 kW (alternating current, depending on the socket)

• – Safety: integrated overload and residual current protection

• – Plug types: Type 1 or type 2

This solution offers more security than mode 1, but remains an interim solution – for example for mobile charging or at home without a permanently installed wallbox.

Charging mode 3 – Today’s standard

Charging mode 3 is the established standard in Europe and the recommended variant for regular charging. Here, the connection is made exclusively via charging stations or wallboxes that are permanently connected to the power grid.

• – Charging capacity: up to 44 kW (alternating current)

• – Communication: between vehicle, charging station and backend

• – Plug types: Type 1 or type 2 (standard in Europe: type 2)

• – Safety: automatic plug lock during the charging process

Thanks to integrated communication, the system recognizes the vehicle’s energy requirements and automatically adjusts the power flow – safely, efficiently and in compliance with calibration law.

Charging mode 4 – Fast charging with direct current

Charging mode 4 is the fast charging mode. Here, direct current (DC) is fed directly into the vehicle battery, which means that charging times are significantly shorter.

• – Charging power: up to over 350 kW (depending on vehicle and station)

• – Plug types: CCS (Combo 2), CHAdeMO, Tesla Supercharger

• – Locking: automatic during the charging process

• – Communication: digital between vehicle and charging point

These fast charging methods are particularly relevant on long distances, highways or for fleets with high throughput.

The future of charging: intelligent systems and energy management

Charging power alone is only one part of the equation. Today, modern charging solutions combine various charging modes with intelligent energy management to regulate grid loads, optimize costs and make energy consumption more sustainable. Cloud-based systems such as the reev Platform enable operators to monitor charging points, integrate load management and securely bill user data – for smooth and efficient charging in any environment.

Conclusion: safety, efficiency and sustainability

From simple charging at the socket to dynamic fast charging – the charging modes define how smartly and safely electric vehicles are supplied with energy. With Mode 3 charging stations and intelligent load management, operators are creating the basis for a future-proof charging infrastructure today – convenient, standard-compliant and scalable.