625 – Electrical Vehicle Power Transfer System

Article 625 and 625.1 – Electric Vehicle Power Transfer Systems

Change at a Glance:

With the addition of power export equipment and bidirectional current flow equipment, a change to the title and scope of Article 625 was needed for clarity.

Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging Power Transfer Systems

625.1 Scope. This article covers the electrical conductors and equipment external to connecting an electric vehicle to premises wiring that connect an electric vehicle to a supply of electricity by conductive, inductive, or wireless power transfer (contactless inductive charging) means, and the installation of equipment and devices related to electric vehicle charging for the purposes of charging, power export, or bidirectional current flow.
Informational Note No. 1: For industrial trucks, see NFPA 505-2013 2018, Fire Safety Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks Including Type Designations, Areas of Use, Conversions, Maintenance, and Operations.
Informational Note No. 2: UL 2594-2013, Standard for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, is a safety standard for conductive electric vehicle supply equipment. UL 2202-2009, Standard for Electric Vehicle Charging System Equipment, is a safety standard for conductive electric vehicle charging equipment.

Article 625, Part II – Product Construction Requirements

Change at a Glance:

Product construction requirements in Part II of Article 625 were deleted from Article 625.

Article 625, Part II. Equipment Construction (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)

625.10 Electric Vehicle Coupler.
625.15 Markings.
625.16 Means of Coupling.
625.17 Cords and Cables.

(A) Power-Supply Cord.

(B) Output Cable to the Electric Vehicle.

(C) Overall Cord and Cable Length.

(D) Interconnecting Cabling Systems.
625.18 Interlock.
625.19 Automatic De-Energization of Cable.
625.22 Personnel Protection Systems.

(See NEC for complete Code text).

625.17(B) – Output Cable to Electric Vehicle

Change at a Glance:

Revision allows the output cable to an electric vehicle to be an integral part of listed electric vehicle supply equipment.

625.17 Cords and Cables. (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)

(B) Output Cable to the Electric Vehicle. The output cable to the electric vehicle shall be one of the following:
(1) Listed Type EV, EVJ, EVE, EVJE, EVT, or EVJT flexible cable as specified in Table 400.4
(2) An integral part of listed electric vehicle supply equipment
Informational Note: Listed electric vehicle supply equipment may incorporate output cables having ampacities greater than 60°C based on the permissible temperature limits for the components and the cable. For information and listing requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment, see UL 2594-2016, Standard for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, and UL 2202-2009, Standard for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging System Equipment.

625.44 – Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System

Change at a Glance:

The connection methods for connection portable EV charging equipment to the premises wiring system has been expanded to include certain 250- volt rated receptacle outlets.

625.44 Equipment Connection. (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)

Equipment EVSE and WPTE shall be connected to the premises wiring system in accordance with one of the following: methods in 625.44(A) through (C).

(A) Portable Equipment. Portable equipment shall be connected to the premises wiring systems system by one or more of the following methods:
(1) A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 125 volts, single phase, 15 or 20 amperes
(2) A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 250 volts, single phase, 15 or 20 amperes
(3) A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire or 3-pole, 4-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 250 volts, single phase, 30 or 50 amperes
(4) A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated at 60 volts dc maximum, 15 or 20 amperes
The length of the power supply cord, if provided, between the receptacle outlet and the equipment shall be in accordance with 625.17(A)(3).

(B) Stationary Fastened-in-Place Equipment. Stationary equipment intended to be Equipment that is fastened in place in such a way as to permit ready removal for interchange, facilitation of maintenance or repair, or repositioning shall be connected to the premises wiring system by one of the following methods:
(1) A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 125 volt volts or 250 volt volts, single phase, up to 50 amperes
(2) A nonlocking, 3-pole, 4-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 250 volt volts, three phase, up to 50 amperes
(3) Any of the receptacle outlets in 625.44(A)(1) or (2) A nonlocking, 3-pole, 4-wire grounding- type receptacle outlet rated 250 volts, single phase, 30 or 50 amperes
(4) A nonlocking, 2-pole, 3-wire grounding-type receptacle outlet rated 60 volts dc maximum, 15 or 20 amperes
The length of the power supply cord, if provided, between the receptacle outlet and the equipment shall be in accordance with 625.17(A)(3).

(C) Fixed Equipment. All other equipment EVSE and WPTE shall be permanently wired and fixed in place to the supporting surface.

625.54 – Receptacle Outlets Used for EV Charging

Change at a Glance:

Revision clarifies that all receptacle outlets used for EV charging be provided with GFCI protection for personnel for all cord and plug connected electric vehicle power transfer equipment.

625.54 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)

In addition to the requirements in 210.8, all receptacles installed for the connection of electric vehicle charging shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

625.56 – Receptacles Installed in a Wet Location for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging

Change at a Glance:

New requirement added to require all receptacles installed in a wet location for EV charging to be installed in an enclosure that provides weatherproof protection with or without an attachment plug cap inserted.

625.56 Receptacle Enclosures. (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)

All receptacles installed in a wet location for electric vehicle charging shall have an enclosure that is weatherproof with the attachment plug cap inserted or removed. An outlet box hood installed for this purpose shall be listed and shall be identified as extra duty. Other listed products, enclosures, or assemblies providing weatherproof protection that do not utilize an outlet box hood shall not be required to be marked extra duty.

625.60 – AC Receptacle Outlets Used for EVPE

Change at a Glance:

New section added to require all on-board receptacle outlets on or in an electric vehicle to be GFCI protected.

625.60 AC Receptacle Outlets Used for EVPE. (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)

AC receptacles installed in electric vehicles and intended to allow for connection of off-board utilization equipment shall comply with 625.60(A) through (D).

(A) Type. The receptacle outlet shall be listed.

(B) Rating. The receptacle outlet shall be rated 250 volts maximum, single phase 50 amperes maximum.

(C) Overcurrent Protection. Electric vehicles provided with receptacle outlets for power export shall be provided with overcurrent protection integral to the power export system. The overcurrent protection shall have a nominal rating sufficient for the receptacle it protects. The overcurrent protection shall also be sufficiently rated for the maximum available fault current at the receptacle and shall be included in the interactive equipment evaluation. See 625.48.

(D) GFCI Protection for Personnel. Groundfault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel shall be provided for all receptacles. The groundfault circuit-interrupter indication and reset shall be installed in a readily accessible location.
Informational Note: There are various methods available to achieve ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.