The answer depends on what you’re charging: for phones and tablets it’s a USB car charger or car adapter, while for electric vehicles the official term is EVSE.
Searching for car charging gear can feel confusing because the industry uses different names depending on whether you’re plugging in a phone or an electric vehicle. That distinction matters more than you might think — buy the wrong one and it simply won’t fit. Here’s what each device is actually called, how they work, and the terms you’ll see on product pages and in manuals.
What Is a Phone Car Charger Called?
For consumer electronics, the standard US term is USB car charger or simply a car adapter. You’ll also see “12V car charger” because these devices plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt power outlet — the round socket most people still call the cigarette lighter, though modern car manuals now list it as a power outlet or accessory socket.
The charger itself is a small adapter that plugs into that socket and provides USB output to charge phones, tablets, and other small devices. Most current models include both port types:
- USB-A — the traditional rectangular port found on older cables
- USB-C (also written Type-C) — the oval connector now standard on modern phones
Many dual-port adapters include one of each so you can charge two devices at once, and the port names appear exactly this way on packaging and in product specifications.
Fast Charging Terms You’ll See On The Box
If you’re shopping for a USB car charger, the spec sheet matters. Current product documentation lists fast-charging support with specific power profiles, and knowing what they mean helps you avoid buying one that charges slower than your phone can handle.
Common USB-C Power Delivery (PD) specifications in current car chargers include combinations like:
- 5V/3A, 9V/2.77A, 12V/2.5A, 15V/2A, and 20V/1.5A
- 5V/3A, 9V/2A, and 12V/1.5A as a simpler five-volt-to-twelve-volt range
These numbers describe the voltage and current the charger can deliver; higher wattage (volts × amps) means faster charging. One important caveat from Kia’s documentation: Power Delivery 3.0 only works on smartphones and tablets with fast-charging capability, and it applies specifically to USB-C devices. An older phone that doesn’t support fast charging will charge at standard speed no matter what the adapter advertises.
| Term | What It Means | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| USB car charger | Adapter that plugs into the 12V socket and provides USB output | Charging phones, tablets, and small electronics |
| USB-A | Traditional rectangular USB port | Older cables and devices |
| USB-C / Type-C | Modern oval connector supporting fast charging | Current phones, tablets, laptops, and earbuds |
| Power Delivery (PD) | Fast-charging protocol delivering higher wattage via USB-C | Quick charging compatible smartphones |
| 12V socket | The vehicle’s power outlet (formerly the cigarette lighter) | Power source for the USB car charger itself |
What Is An Electric Vehicle Charger Called?
Electric vehicle charging hardware has its own terminology, and “charger” is technically imprecise here. US government and industry sources use the term EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) because the unit in your garage or at a station doesn’t actually do the charging — it supplies power safely to the charger built into the car itself.
The US Department of Transportation divides EV charging into three levels, and each uses a different connector:
- Level 1 — plugs into a standard 120V AC outlet, typical for residential overnight charging, using the J1772 connector
- Level 2 — uses 208–240V AC, common at homes, workplaces, and public stations, also using J1772
- DC fast charging — delivers 400V–1000V DC, found along heavy-traffic corridors at installed stations, using CCS, CHAdeMO, or Tesla connectors
Calling a public charging station a “car charger” isn’t wrong in everyday conversation, but is imprecise in the same way calling your home’s wall outlet a “charger” would be — the hardware is supply equipment, and the charging electronics live inside the vehicle.
How Do You Actually Use A USB Car Charger?
Using a USB car charger is straightforward, but the correct order matters for safety and device health. Car manuals and charger documentation agree on this sequence:
- Plug the charger into the vehicle’s power socket
- Connect a USB cable to the charger port
- Connect the other end of the cable to your device
- After charging, disconnect the device first, then unplug the charger from the socket
Manuals specifically instruct users to unplug the USB cable before removing the adapter, and to unplug the adapter from the socket when it’s not in use. It’s a small habit that protects both the adapter and your car’s outlet from wear.
Pairing the right charger with the right cable matters too. A fast-charging adapter does nothing if your cable doesn’t support the same power profile, so check the cable’s specs when you’re comparing the best car chargers in our roundup.
Which type of car charger do you actually need? If you own an electric vehicle, you’ll be talking about EVSE, Level 2 chargers, and DC fast stations. If you just want to keep your phone topped up on the commute, a USB car charger with USB-C Power Delivery is the tool you’re after.
FAQs
Is the cigarette lighter socket the same as a car charger outlet?
Yes, in practical terms. The round 12-volt socket originally designed for cigarette lighters now serves as the power outlet for USB car chargers. Most car manuals refer to it as the power outlet or accessory socket, but it accepts both cigarette lighters and charging adapters.
What is the fastest USB car charger I can buy?
The fastest options support USB-C Power Delivery at 20V/1.5A or higher, which charges compatible phones at full speed. Just confirm your phone supports PD fast charging — per Kia’s documentation, Power Delivery 3.0 only works on devices with fast-charging capability and USB-C ports.
Do I need to unplug my car charger when the car is off?
Most manuals recommend unplugging the charger when not in use. It prevents unnecessary power draw and reduces wear on both the adapter and the vehicle’s socket. Always disconnect the USB cable first, then remove the adapter.
References & Sources
- USB Implementers Forum. “Universal Serial Bus Type-C Cable and Connector Specification, Release 2.5.” Defines USB-C port standards and specifications.
- US Department of Transportation. “EV Charging Speeds.” Official breakdown of Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging standards.
- GreenCars. “Electric Car Battery and Charging Lingo.” Explains EVSE terminology and connector names used in the industry.