Electric Vehicle Charging Connector Types

If you are thinking about investing in an electric vehicle, then you should know that there are tons of charging options available. If you’re not quite sure where to start when it comes to electric car chargers, then this guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Type One Plugs

This is a five-pin connector. It’s widely used in America but it is quickly taking off in the EU and UK. You will find it on older vehicles, which include the Kia Soul EV and the Nissan Leaf. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV model also uses this connection. EVs with this system normally come with an adapter so you can be plugged into an untethered charging point.

Type Two Plugs

This is the most common plug in Europe. Manufacturers have to fit this seven-pin EV chargers plug as a standard with their EV models. The system is designed to offer fast and slow charging, and it can also handle the 22kW power supply, although you should check to see if your car can accept this. This can be locked to the car, so nobody can disconnect the car when the charge is in use.

Combination Plugs

The CCS system is one of the most popular options when it comes to DC connections and rapid charging. A lot of pure EV models come with this type of connector as it allows you to charge when using public rapid chargers as well as your home unit. This is the system that Tesla has adopted in Europe, and it comes as standard on the Model 3.

CHAdeMO

CHAdeMO means Charge de Move. It’s one of the first rapid charging systems to use DC. It’s the connection that is favoured by Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Honda. It is also able to carry up to 400kW as well. You will have to ensure that your car has two plugs, one for rapid and one for slow charging. Although this doesn’t affect usability, it does mean that your car needs to have a large access flap.

CEE

This system is very popular with earlier electric cars, including the G-Wiz. It’s the same connector that is used by campsites and you can have it installed at your home. It will deliver a slow charge of 3kW and fast charging at 22kW.

Tesla Supercharger

A lot of UK motorways are home to charging points like this. Although it is only available to owners of a Tesla car, you will have a tethered cable and a Type 2 connector. The Model 3 however is rolling out connectivity with CCS as well.

Mode 2

This is a basic, slow charging cable. It’s one that you will get with the car, and it has a Type 1/Type 2 connector at one end and a 3-pin plug at the other.

If you want to find out more about the home electric car chargers that are available or if you want to choose one for your car, then give us a call and we’ll do our best to help.