Universal Serial Bus, or USB, is frequently accompanied by acronyms and shorthand when discussing various related technologies that aren’t particularly popular or widely recognized. For instance, it may not be common knowledge what the “C” in a USB-C port signifies. USB PD, which stands for USB Power Delivery, is slightly more familiar but still likely unknown to many individuals. Another abbreviation often linked to USB PD yet not widely recognized is EPR. It refers to Extended Power Range, a specification for power delivery. This denotes that a specific USB port can provide between 101W and 240W of power.
EPR was introduced in the USB PD 3.1 standard as a successor to the Standard Power Range (SPR), which permits power delivery of up to 100W using USB ports. It has effectively eliminated the necessity for large proprietary power adapters that we typically receive with gaming laptops and other devices requiring similar power, such as e-bikes and power tools. Here’s everything you should know about USB PD EPR (Extended Power Range).
USB PD has been quite successful in transforming the way we charge and power devices. Nevertheless, its original 100W cap limited its use for high-powered devices. However, EPR has changed that with its 240W cap. It achieves higher power delivery by permitting higher voltage through USB PD connections while maintaining the same 5A current as SPR. EPR has introduced three additional voltage tiers: 28V, 36V, and 48V, which correspond to 140W, 180W, and 240W of power when combined with a 5A current.
However, EPR isn’t confined to these voltage levels. Just as the Programmable Power Supply (PPS) extension of USB PD allows voltage selection in increments of 20mV for optimal delivery, EPR features an Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS) that also permits voltage selection in increments of 100m.
