The top two work for me..

The top two are pretty clever, because they contain both the letters E and C for "Electric Car" or "Electric Charging" and they also have a stylized electric plug. The bottom two lose the letter C.

Thanks both!

Someone pointed out to me that the plugs for the cars in the US don't look like the plug here.. so it was hard to associate to a Car charger. it's a good point. it seems the actual plugs differ from country to country (which isn't very practical), so i'm trying to go for something more universal... for electrical.

Very smart, clean, simple and meaningful.

I don't think the actual difference in the plugs is important. The two-connection plug with cord is a kind of universal sign, even if the plugs in use are somewhat different. I guess you created an icon destined to be worldwidely applied.

For me, the shape of the plug is unimportant; what plugs DO and HOW THEY WORK is key. What sold me on the top two is that the plug is CONNECTED to a power source (the implied cord coming out of the plug).

I think this is a remarkably well executed merge of logotype and pictorial representation. Congratulations. (I too prefer the upper versions.)

The top 2 look nice, although the "E" and "C" shapes will obviously not be meaningful in all languages as the words for charging/car/electricity will vary from country to country. But of course it's the plug and cord shapes that carry the main message.

Many thanks everyone!

Indeed I don't expect everyone to read and see all that's in there everywhere in the world (hell, some of my friends saw sleeping Bears and white and black pigs in there!! :)), but at least that the main feature (which is the plug and connection) are visible and dominant.

This will be eventually used as a standard dingbat in my fonts and most likely also as a free dingbat font.. it should be out there, where it belongs.

thanks again.

A

some of my friends saw sleeping Bears and white and black pigs in there

What are your friends smoking, and where can I get some?

actually they are the NON-smokers, which might explain it :)

Top right! Love it! Maybe incorporate the oh-so-modern "green" into the color scheme?

I'm loving this. Just wanted to say. (The top versions.)
BTW, make sure you optically-correct the circle – the top/bottom looks heavier than the side where the cable comes through (but maybe it's just me).

I see a smiley face.

So, I'd suggest making it one. Turn it 90 degrees. It's a plug! It's a smiley face!

There will be two different chargers: Fast (480Volt) and Level 2 (220Volt) how will you differentiate between the two?

Or 45 degrees to the left? Then you could still read the E as E.

@ukr50: Since I'm not designing your city’s actual brand of electrical charging station, but merely offering an alternative universal pictorial representation of one, this doesn't concern such details.
But if I was to design one, I would probably simply put a big 480V and 220V next to each other. How 'bout that?

And for all your lovely rotation advices.. just turn your screen or slightly turn your heads :D

thanks again.

would you be interested in having this pictorial for free to use?

It’s a nice idea! However, to me it looks more like a company’s brand rather than a general public signage piece. For the latter purpose it may be too sophisticated to be instantly deciphered by the average car charger. Maybe something fool-proof would do, like this:

http://logopond.com/gallery/detail/47306

cool anyway

FWIW I just came across this:
http://creattica.com/logos/connector/39618

Andreas, that red one looks like a Hummer tailgating a Smart Car! :-)

Can we see something with a “lightning bolt” please?

Seems the PTB (Powers That Be) in the US have already decided on theirs: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part2/fig2i_01_longdesc.htm

The Wikipedia article on charging stations shows a proposal for the European version.

Putting a lightning symbol on the sign... naahhh... too much like saying "Zap 'em all and let $DEITY sort 'em out!"