How to get to grips with EV connectors

What are the types of connectors for charging an EV vehicle?

There are four connectors for electrical vehicle charging: Type 1, Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO. Type 1 and Type 2 are generally used when slow charging the vehicle from an AC power source. CCS and CHAdeMO are used when fast charging the vehicle from a DC power source.

There are some exceptions to this, for example some older models of the Renault ZOE use a Type 2 connector to fast charge. There are adapters on the market to allow some flexibility in what chargers the vehicle can connect to.

Which types of charging connectors are most common in Europe?

Generally, European vehicles will have two charging ports that use Type 2 (for slow charging) and CCS connectors (for fast charging). Most Asian application vehicles use a Type 1 and CHAdeMO. Some Asian vehicle manufactures may have a hybrid combination, to make the vehicle more suited for the European market. For example, switching out a Type 1 for a Type 2, but retaining the CHAdeMO connector.

What is a common cause of an EV vehicle not fast charging?

If a customer tells you that their EV vehicle isn’t charging properly when connected to a fast charging point, it maybe because they didn’t use the right connector. They may have picked up the Type 2 because that is what the customer is used to charging their vehicle at home when slow charging. However, the Type 2 fast charge would only work on specific older models (such as the Renault ZOE). Advise your customers to always use either a CCS or CHAdeMO connector to fast charge.