A charging port is a single outlet on a charging station that can charge one vehicle at a time. A station, or charger, may have one port or several, and each port may or may not be able to deliver full power when others are in use.
Ports are the unit that matters for capacity. Federal programs and most data sources count ports, and a two-port charger serving two spaces delivers twice the charging access of a single-port unit. The word also describes the inlet on the vehicle where the connector plugs in.
Ports, chargers and spaces
- Charger or station. The cabinet or pedestal. See EVSE.
- Port. One outlet with a cable and connector able to charge one vehicle at a time.
- Charging space. The parking space a port can reach. A port between two spaces can serve either.
- Power sharing. When ports share a circuit, power divides among the vehicles connected. See managed charging.
The Parkonomics view
Count ports when comparing bids, and check what each port delivers when every port is busy. That number, not the label on the cabinet, is the facility’s charging capacity.
Related terms: Charger, Connector, Charging Space, Charger Uptime, Charging Utilization