TL;DR:
- Modern EVs in the UK use Type 2 for AC charging (home and public slow/fast) and CCS for DC rapid charging — most new cars have both ports built in
- CHAdeMO is declining rapidly; only Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV still use it, and public CHAdeMO chargers are being phased out
- For home charging, your installer provides a tethered cable or you use your own Type 2-to-Type 2 cable; for rapid public chargers, the cable is always tethered at the charger
Plug types are one of the first things that confuse new EV drivers, and the confusion is understandable — there are multiple standards, the names are inconsistent, and what applies to home charging is completely different from rapid charging. This guide covers everything in one place.
The Four Connectors You’ll Encounter
Type 2 (also called Mennekes or IEC 62196)
Type 2 is the European standard for AC charging. Every EV sold new in the UK since around 2015 has a Type 2 port, and every home charge point and most public AC chargers use Type 2. The connector has seven pins and a distinctive flat top edge.
Type 2 delivers AC power, which your car’s onboard charger converts to DC. The conversion happens inside the vehicle, so the maximum charging speed is limited by your car’s onboard charger capacity — not the cable or the charge point. A typical home charger supplies 7.4kW (single-phase, 32A). Your car might accept only 3.7kW (single-phase, 16A) or up to 22kW (three-phase, 32A) depending on its onboard charger. The cable doesn’t change this limit.
For home charging, your charge point will either have a fixed tethered Type 2 cable (most common) or a socket that you plug your own cable into. Most EV manufacturers supply a 5-metre Type 2-to-Type 2 cable with new cars for this purpose.
CCS (Combined Charging System, also called CCS2 or Combo 2 in Europe)
CCS is the standard for rapid DC charging in Europe. It extends the Type 2 port with two additional large DC pins below the standard seven-pin Type 2 section — this is the “Combined” part. Most modern EVs (Volkswagen Group, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Renault, Hyundai, Kia, most Tesla models since 2024) use CCS.
When you rapid charge with CCS, DC power goes directly into the battery, bypassing the onboard AC charger. This is why rapid chargers can deliver 50kW, 150kW, or 350kW — the limiting factor is the car’s DC charge acceptance rate, not a slow onboard converter.
At CCS rapid chargers, the cable is always tethered at the charger. You do not need your own CCS cable. The plug locks to your car while charging and releases when charging stops.
CHAdeMO
CHAdeMO is a DC rapid charging standard developed by Japanese manufacturers. It uses a large, round connector that’s physically separate from the AC port — cars with CHAdeMO have two distinct inlet sockets. In the UK, CHAdeMO is now almost exclusively associated with the Nissan Leaf and older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
CHAdeMO is declining quickly. Nissan announced in 2024 that future models would move to CCS. Charging networks have been reducing CHAdeMO availability — some rapid charger installations now include only CCS and Tesla connectors. If you own a CHAdeMO vehicle, check your usual charging locations before long journeys, as the charger that was there last year may have been replaced.
Tesla Connector (NACS in the US, CCS in the UK)
Tesla’s UK vehicles use CCS and always have — NACS, Tesla’s proprietary connector that’s being adopted in North America, is a US/Canada matter. In the UK and Europe, Teslas use standard CCS for DC rapid charging and Type 2 for AC. Tesla Superchargers in the UK are CCS. Non-Tesla EVs can use Tesla Superchargers via the network’s open access programme.
What Cables Do You Actually Need?
For home charging:
- If you have a tethered charge point (most home installations): no cable needed, the cable is attached to the unit
- If you have a socketed charge point: you need a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable (also called a Mode 3 cable). Lengths range from 5 to 10 metres. Check the current rating — a 32A cable matches a 7.4kW charger; a 16A cable limits you to 3.7kW
- Most EV manufacturers include a Type 2 cable at purchase; check what came with your car before buying one
For public AC chargers:
- Tethered (cable attached at charger): no cable needed, though check the connector matches your car
- Socketed (plug-in): you need your own Type 2 cable. Most Type 2 cables work here; carry the one supplied with your car
For rapid charging:
- CCS, CHAdeMO, and Tesla Supercharger cables are always tethered at the rapid charger. You never need your own rapid charging cable
- The only exception is some older or specialist chargers — check before visiting an unfamiliar location
Granny Charger (3-Pin Plug)
Almost every EV comes with a Mode 2 emergency cable: a standard 3-pin UK plug at one end, a Type 2 connector at the other, and a control box in the cable that limits current to 8-10A (roughly 1.8-2.3kW). This is the slowest way to charge — a 60kWh battery takes 30+ hours from empty.
It’s called a granny charger and that’s an accurate description. Use it when you genuinely have no other option: overnight at a location without a charge point, at a rural holiday let, or as an emergency if your main charge point fails. It’s not a primary charging strategy, but it’s worth keeping in the car.
Speed Reference
| Charger type | Typical speed | Common locations |
|---|---|---|
| 3-pin (Mode 2) | 1.8–2.3kW | Emergency/home without charger |
| Home/slow AC (Mode 3) | 3.7–7.4kW | Home, workplace, on-street |
| Fast AC | 11–22kW | Shopping centres, car parks |
| DC rapid | 50–150kW | Motorway services, retail hubs |
| DC ultra-rapid | 150–350kW | BP Pulse, Gridserve, Tesla V4 |
Your car’s maximum acceptance rate applies in every case. A car that accepts a maximum of 7.4kW AC will charge at 7.4kW from a 22kW charger — you can’t pull more power than your car supports.
Common Questions
Do I need to carry a Type 2 cable if I have a home charger? Only if your home charger is socketed rather than tethered. If it’s tethered, the cable lives attached to the unit and you don’t need a separate cable for home use. For visiting locations with socketed public AC chargers, having a Type 2 cable in the boot is useful.
Can I use any Type 2 cable with any Type 2 charger? Yes, Type 2 is a universal standard. The cable you got from your manufacturer will work at any Type 2 socket in the UK and Europe. Check the current rating is appropriate for the charger (16A or 32A).
My car has CCS — do I also have a Type 2 socket? Yes. The CCS port combines the two connectors in one physical opening. Your car has one opening that accepts both Type 2 plugs (for AC charging) and CCS plugs (for DC rapid charging). It’s the same physical location on the car.
I have an older Nissan Leaf — are CHAdeMO chargers disappearing? Yes, slowly. Major networks like Pod Point, Osprey, and bp pulse continue to maintain CHAdeMO at many sites, but newer installations may omit it. Check using Zap-Map before long journeys. The practical answer for Leaf owners planning to keep the car long-term is to primarily use AC chargers (which the Leaf supports via Type 2) and treat CHAdeMO rapid charging as a supplement rather than a primary strategy.