Connectors explained
CCS2, Type 2, CHAdeMO, Tesla NACS, Type 1 — five connectors cover almost every public EV charger in the world. Here's what each one looks like, where you'll find it, and which cars use it.
Also known as: Mennekes Combo
Current type
AC + DC
Max power
Up to 350 kW DC
Where
Europe, UK, Australia
The de facto European/Australian DC fast-charging standard. A Type 2 AC plug with two additional DC pins below — one connector handles both home AC charging and motorway-speed DC fast charging.
Cars: Almost every modern EV: VW, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Polestar, MG, BYD, Tesla (CCS2 retrofit / native).
Also known as: IEC 62196-2
Current type
AC
Max power
Up to 22 kW AC (43 kW with rare AC variants)
Where
Europe, UK, Australia (standard)
The standard AC connector on every public AC charger in Europe and AU. Used at home wallboxes, destination chargers, on-street posts, and the AC handle on most DC stations.
Cars: Every EV sold in Europe/AU uses Type 2 for AC charging.
Also known as: Japanese DC standard
Current type
DC
Max power
Up to 100 kW (most stations 50 kW)
Where
Japan; legacy support in EU/UK/AU
A separate large round DC connector. Still important for older Leaf drivers, but new stations rarely add CHAdeMO stalls. Some networks are removing them.
Cars: Nissan Leaf (all generations), older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Being phased out in Europe — no new car launched with CHAdeMO since 2022.
Also known as: North American Charging Standard (US) / Tesla Type 2 (EU/AU)
Current type
AC + DC
Max power
Up to 250 kW DC (V3 Supercharger)
Where
Tesla Supercharger network worldwide. NACS adoption growing in US 2025–2026.
In Europe and Australia, Tesla switched to CCS2; the original Tesla Type 2 DC variant remains at older Supercharger sites. In North America, NACS is the US-wide standard.
Cars: Every Tesla. From 2025–2026 most non-Tesla EVs in North America (Ford, GM, Hyundai, Rivian, Polestar…) get NACS via adapter or native port.
Also known as: SAE J1772
Current type
AC
Max power
Up to 7.4 kW AC (single phase)
Where
North America, Japan; legacy in EU/UK
The original North American AC connector. Very rare on European/AU public infrastructure today — most older Type 1 cars charge via a Type 2 → Type 1 adapter cable.
Cars: Older Nissan Leafs, first-gen Mitsubishi i-MiEV, early Chevy Volts, some imported used Japanese EVs.
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Only via the AC handle on the CCS post. The CCS connector itself is DC only and won't fit a Type 2-only car.
Yes. No new EVs have launched with CHAdeMO since 2022 in Europe/AU. Networks still maintain stalls for the Leaf, but new sites are CCS2-first.
Tesla's connector standard, being adopted as the US-wide DC fast-charge standard from 2025–2026. Outside North America, Tesla uses CCS2.
