Electric vehicles & EV charging: Glossary of terms
The world of electric vehicles comes with its own set of acronyms, technical terms and jargon. To help make things clearer, we’ve created a glossary of the most common terms you’ll come across when charging or driving an EV in Ireland.
EV types and terminology
EV (Electric Vehicle)
A general term for any vehicle powered partly or fully by electricity. This includes BEVs, PHEVs, and hybrids.
BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)
A 100% battery-powered vehicle that must be plugged in to recharge. It does not have a petrol or diesel engine.
PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
A hybrid vehicle that combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery that can be plugged in to charge.
ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)
A vehicle powered by a traditional petrol or diesel engine. EV charge spaces blocked by such vehicles are sometimes said to be “ICE’d”.
Range
The distance your EV can travel on battery power before needing to be recharged.
Charging basics
Charge point
A device that supplies electric energy for recharging EVs. Found at home, workplaces or public spaces.
Home charging
Charging your EV while parked at home, usually using a dedicated wall-mounted charger for overnight convenience and lower cost.
Smart charging
Charging that can be scheduled, monitored, or adjusted based on electricity tariffs or grid demand. Helps lower costs and support sustainability.
Charger types and outputs
SCP (Standard/Fast Charge Point)
An AC charger delivering up to 22kW of power. Common in homes, workplaces and slower public locations.
FCP (Fast/Rapid Charge Point)
Delivers over 22kW (typically 50kW–150kW). Found mainly at public locations such as service stations and major car parks.
HPC (High Power Charge Point)
High-speed DC chargers delivering 150kW or more. These are used for ultra-rapid charging on major routes or EV hubs.
Power and current types
AC (Alternating Current)
The form of electricity typically delivered to homes and businesses. It regularly changes direction and is used in most EV home charging setups.
DC (Direct Current)
Electricity that flows in one direction only, used in fast charging. Batteries store and use DC power, so AC must be converted for storage.
kW (Kilowatt)
A unit of power that indicates how quickly energy is being used or transferred — key to charging speed.
kWh (Kilowatt-hour)
A unit of energy — how much electricity has been used over time. EV batteries are rated in kWh.
Charging connectors and hardware
CCS Combo
The most common fast-charge connector in Europe. Combines AC and DC pins into a single port. Used by most modern EVs.
CHAdeMO
A fast-charging connector primarily used by older models like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
AC22 and AC43
Legacy connectors still found on some public chargers. AC22 is common and compatible with most EVs, while AC43 offers higher output but is less widely supported.
Socket
The receptacle where you plug your EV charging cable into the charger. It may be hidden behind a flap or cover on public units.
Card reader / RFID card
Used to authorise charging on some public networks. These are typically tap-and-go cards linked to your EV account or payment method.
Electrical systems
Single phase electricity
Common in most Irish homes. Supports standard EV home charging (typically up to 7.4kW).
Three phase electricity
More common in commercial settings and enables higher-powered EV charging (11kW–22kW) if the EV is compatible.
