Which electric car charging plug do I need — Type 2, CCS or CHAdeMO?
Three connectors cover essentially every public charger in Britain, and most modern cars use two of them through a single socket. What each one is for, and which cable you actually need to own.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 12 min
- Read
- 4 min
Short answer
Type 2 is the AC connector every modern electric car has, used for home wallboxes, workplace and on-street posts — and it is the cable you need to own, because most AC posts are untethered. CCS is the DC rapid connector, which adds two extra pins below a Type 2-shaped upper section, and its cable is attached to the charger. CHAdeMO is an older DC standard now mostly limited to earlier Nissan Leafs.
The connector question sounds intimidating and is genuinely simple once you see the design. Almost every modern electric car has a single socket that is really two: a Type 2 upper section for AC charging, with two extra DC pins immediately below it that are only used when a CCS connector is plugged in. That is why the socket flap on most cars has a small removable lower panel. One socket, two roles, and the car works out which is which.
Step by step
- Look at your own car's socket.If it has a seven-pin round Type 2 section with a two-pin extension below, you have a combined CCS inlet and you can use both AC and DC rapid charging. If it has a separate large round socket elsewhere, that is CHAdeMO.
- Buy or keep a Type 2 to Type 2 cable.This is the one cable an EV owner genuinely needs. Most public AC posts and many workplace chargers are untethered, meaning they have a socket rather than an attached cable. Cars are usually supplied with one; if you buy used, check it is there.
- Do not worry about a DC cable.DC rapid chargers always have their cable permanently attached, because the currents involved need a heavy, actively cooled cable. You will never carry one.
- Know what CHAdeMO means for you.It is the older Japanese DC standard, and in Britain it is essentially the earlier Nissan Leaf and a handful of other models. It still works and networks still provide it, but new installations increasingly prioritise CCS, so a CHAdeMO car has fewer options at a busy site.
- Understand Type 1 if you are looking at an older used EV.Type 1 is a five-pin AC connector used on some earlier cars, mostly Japanese and American in origin. It works, but you will need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable for public posts, and it cannot do three-phase AC charging.
- Keep the granny cable but treat it as an emergency option.The three-pin domestic cable supplied with most EVs charges very slowly and puts a sustained heavy load on a socket. It is fine occasionally on a good circuit, and it is not a substitute for a proper wallbox.
- Check the cable rating if you buy a spare.Cables are rated in amps and for single or three-phase. A 32 A three-phase cable costs more and only helps if your car can accept more than 7 kW on AC. Buying more cable than the car can use is a common waste of money.
Common mistakes
- Buying an adapter to convert between DC standards — DC rapid charging involves high currents and a communication protocol between car and charger. Adapters between DC standards are not a mainstream consumer product for good reasons.
- Using the three-pin cable as the everyday solution — It draws a sustained load for many hours on a domestic socket, which is exactly the condition that finds a poor connection in an old socket. As an occasional option it is fine; as a routine it is not.
If it doesn't work
Connector will not go in fully
Cause: Wrong type, ice or debris in the socket, or a bent pin — Fix: Never force it. Check the shape against the socket, look inside both for damage, and try another bay. A damaged connector on a public unit should be reported rather than used.
Only CHAdeMO available and your car is CCS
Cause: Older site — Fix: They are not interchangeable and adapters are not a practical or safe option for DC. Use the mapping app's connector filter when planning to avoid this.
AC charging much slower than the post's rating
Cause: Your car's onboard charger, or a single-phase supply — Fix: A 22 kW post only delivers 22 kW to a car with a three-phase onboard charger. Most cars sold in Britain are single-phase and cap at around 7 kW, which is a car limitation rather than a fault.
Cable will not release from the post
Cause: Session not ended, or the post's lock has stuck — Fix: End the session in the app first, then unlock the car. Most posts release when the session ends; if it does not, the network's helpline can usually release it remotely.
Buying a used EV with no cable
Cause: Cables are frequently lost or sold separately — Fix: Factor the cost in, and check which type you need. A Type 2 cable is not expensive, but a car without one cannot use most public AC charging at all.
Questions people ask
Will one cable cover everything?
A Type 2 to Type 2 cable covers every untethered AC post and every home wallbox that is not tethered. DC rapid chargers supply their own. So for a modern car, yes — one cable.
Is CHAdeMO being phased out?
New installations increasingly favour CCS, and manufacturers have moved to CCS in Europe. Existing CHAdeMO connectors remain in service, so a CHAdeMO car is not stranded, but the choice at any given site is narrower and likely to narrow further.
What about Tesla connectors?
In Europe and the UK, Teslas use Type 2 for AC and CCS for DC, the same as everyone else. Parts of the Supercharger network are open to other makes, which the mapping apps will show.