Connectors & Plugs

Connector type in the EU

Charging level	Charging station	Cable	Vehicle
Level 1 ≤ 2,3 kW Emergency charger that doesn’t require installation	Type 2 Cable female	Not required	Type 2 male
Level 2 with integrated cable Up to 22 kW – Private chargers	Type 2 Cable female	Not required	Type 2 male
Level 2 Έως 22 kW – Public & outdoor chargers	Type 2 Socket female	Type 2 male – female	Type 2 male
Level 3 (EU Standard) Up to 360 kW	CCS 2 Cable	Not required	CCS 2
Level 3 (ορισμένα παλαιότερα ευρωπαϊκά οχήματα) Up to 400 kW – The standard is used in other countries	CHAdeMO Cable	Not required	CHAdeMO

1. The Charging Station:

In 2014, the EU has passed a legislation requiring all member states to enact a law for the standardization of EV connectors by the 18^th of November 2017. This requirement applies to all public charging stations installed or upgraded after the set date, and requires that the following ports are available:

• Type 2 (also known as Mennekes), when providing Level 2 (AC) charging
• CCS 2 (Combo 2), when providing Level 3 (DC) charging

Along the side of the mandated port types mentioned above, you may also come across the following ports in Europe:

• Type 3 (mainly in France)
• CHAdeMO at Fast (rapid) DC Charging Stations

Depending on your use case and the installation location, a Level 2 charging station with either a socket or cable may better fit your needs:

2. The Cable

Most EVs sold in the EU come equipped with a Level 1 (Mode 2) charging cable. This cable is plugs into a standard Schuko wall socket and can serve as a practical backup charger. However, due to the slow speed (read more about the charging speeds), it is far from ideal for everyday use.

At the charging stations side:

• Public Level 2 charging stations usually feature only a socket / outlet, leaving users responsible to furnish their own cable. For all recent charging stations, the necessary cable is Type 2.
• DC charging stations (Level 3) have a tethered (hardwired) cable that plugs directly into the EV. In the majority of cases, these plugs will be CCS 2 / Combo 2, a larger plug that attaches to the Type 2 port with additional contacts below (for DC CCS compatible EVs). Some public DC stations may also offer a CHAdeMO cable compatible with some DC EVs. This is a separate connector used on some EVs, notably the Nissan Leaf.
• Home charging station (Level 2) may either have a tethered (hardwired) cable or provide a socket / outlet. For Charing Stations sold in the EU, the connector is Type 2. A notable exception is France, where by law all charging stations need to have a physical cover, concealing the electrical contacts. Consequently, OEMs comply with this requirement by selling charging stations with a shuttered socket rather than a tethered (hardwired) cable which. Previously France, used a Type 3 connector, which is now being phased-out.

The common connectors found featured on the EVs sold in Europe:

3. The Electric Vehicle (EV):

EU vehicles come equipped with a Type 2 port(s) for AC charging with additional CCS 2 contacts for DC charging, when supported. A notable exception is Tesla Model S and Model X, which offer DC charging but requires an adopter to convert the custom Type 2 port to either: CCS or CHAdeMO. Older versions of the above mentioned models are restricted to CHAdeMO only, unless retrofitted by Tesla. The latest Tesla Model 3, destined for the EU, has both, a Type 2 and a CCS port. Another important exception is the Nissan Leaf which uses a CHAdeMO connector for Level 3 (DC) charging.

In North America

In North America the major standards for the charging stations and Level 1 cables are:

• NEMA 14-50 outlet, also known as the RV outlet.
• Type 1, also known as J plug. The plug on the charging stations with a tethered cable, and the standard for the majority of EVs sold in North America.
• CHAdeMO. The standard commonly used for Level 3 (DC) charging. Tethered to the charging station.
• CCS 1. Also commonly used for Level 3 (DC) charging. As in the EU, the cable is tethered to the DC Station and the plug is a combination of the Type 1 with additional DC contacts.

The electric vehicles are generally equipped with a Type 1 (also known as J plug) connector for AC charging with either additional contact for a CCS connection or a CHAdeMO port, for DC charging (if supported by the vehicle). Tesla vehicles sold in North America are equipped with a Tesla proprietary port used for both; AC and DC charging.

Other markets and connector variations

Japan, and Asia in general, widely use the Type 1 standard for Level 2 charging and CHAdeMO for Level 3 (DC charging). China uses their own standard – GB/T.