The map lists names like Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO. If you have just started driving electric, that doesn’t tell you much. Luckily, plugs in Europe have largely been standardised, so the choice is smaller than it looks.
Type 2: the plug for AC
Type 2 is the European standard for alternating current (AC). The plug is round, with a flattened top and seven contacts. Almost every electric car sold in Europe has a Type 2 inlet.
Most public AC chargers have a socket in the unit, and you bring your own cable. You plug one end into the charger and the other into the car. Some chargers do have a fixed cable. In that case you don’t need to bring anything.
A Type 2 inlet doesn’t mean you can fast charge. For that you need CCS.
CCS: Type 2 with two extra pins
CCS stands for Combined Charging System. The plug looks like a Type 2, with two large pins underneath for direct current (DC). So it is one inlet with two functions. You charge AC through the top, and with the two lower pins added you can fast charge.
On a DC fast charger the cable is always attached to the unit. You don’t need to bring one, and you can’t connect your own. For more on the difference between the two types of current, see AC vs DC charging.
What about CHAdeMO?
CHAdeMO is an older fast-charging plug, mostly found on Japanese models from a few years ago. New cars no longer get it. The map still lists chargers with CHAdeMO, but their number is shrinking. If your car has a CHAdeMO inlet, make sure you filter on that plug type, because a CCS charger won’t help you.
How do you know what your car has?
Open the charging flap and look at the inlet, or check the manual.
- If you see only a round inlet with seven holes, it’s Type 2. You can charge on AC, but not fast charge.
- If you see that same inlet with two large holes underneath, it’s CCS. You can charge on AC and fast charge.
- If you see a separate, large round inlet next to or below the regular one, it’s probably CHAdeMO.
Some older cars have a different AC plug, called Type 1. In practice that’s uncommon. If you have one, always check that your cable and the charger work together before you start.
Why the fastest plug doesn’t always give the fastest charge
A plug is only one link in the chain. The car itself decides how much power it accepts.
Take a 22 kW AC charger and a car with an 11 kW AC charger on board. The car draws 11 kW, no more. The charger has the capacity, but the car is the limit.
Work it through with a 60 kWh battery that you charge from 20% to 80%. That is 36 kWh (60 x 0.6). At 11 kW it takes a little over three hours (36 / 11 = 3.3). At 7.4 kW it takes about five hours (36 / 7.4 = 4.9). In practice some energy is lost while charging, so allow a bit longer. How kW and kWh fit together is explained in charging speed explained.
DC works the same way: your car’s maximum speed counts, not the number on the charger. The power also drops as the battery fills up.
Do you need your own cable?
It depends on the charger.
- Is there a socket in the unit (and no fixed cable)? Then you need a cable.
- Is there a fixed cable on the unit? Then you don’t, but do check that the plug fits your inlet.
- Is it a DC fast charger? Then the cable is always attached.
For most situations a Type 2 cable of 5 to 7 metres is enough. If the inlet is at the rear and you sometimes have to park far from the charger, a longer cable helps. There is more on this in buying an EV charging cable.
Common mistakes
- You drive to a fast charger, but your car only has Type 2. The plug doesn’t fit your inlet and the trip was for nothing.
- You set off without a cable for an AC charger. Keep one in the boot and the problem is gone.
- You only look at the charger’s power and not at what your car can take.
- You confuse the plug with the network. A plug that fits doesn’t give you access. You also need a charging card or another way to pay. See what is an EV charging card.
Only look for chargers that fit
On the map you can filter by plug type. That way you only see chargers that suit your car, instead of everything nearby. You’ll find an overview of all plugs on the page about plugs.