Type 2 – Europe's AC standard
Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) is Europe's standard connector for AC charging. Nearly every EV sold in Europe has one, from a VW ID.3 to a BMW iX to a European-spec Tesla Model 3. Power ranges from 3.7 kW (single-phase) up to 22 kW (three-phase). On an 11 kW home charger, a 60 kWh battery fills up in roughly 6 hours.
- Shape: round, 7 pins (5 power + 2 signal)
- Typical power: 3.7 / 7.4 / 11 / 22 kW
- Used for: home chargers, public AC stations, workplace charging
- Vehicles: virtually every modern EU-market EV
CCS – Europe's DC fast-charging standard
CCS (Combined Charging System) adds two extra DC pins beneath the Type 2 connector. It's the dominant fast-charging standard across Europe and North America. The vast majority of fast chargers in Germany – whether run by Ionity, EnBW or Aral pulse – offer CCS.
- Shape: Type 2 port plus two DC pins below
- Power: 50 kW up to 350 kW
- Used for: fast charging on highways and in cities
- Vehicles: VW ID family, BMW i-Series, Mercedes EQ, Audi e-tron, Hyundai IONIQ, Kia EV6, European Tesla Model 3/Y
CHAdeMO – the Japanese DC standard
CHAdeMO is a Japanese connector standard used mainly by Nissan and Mitsubishi. It's losing ground fast in Europe as manufacturers standardize on CCS. The older Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are the most common CHAdeMO vehicles you'll still see on European roads.
- Power: 50–150 kW (newer versions up to 400 kW)
- Vehicles: Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, older Kia Soul EV
- Trend: declining in Europe, fewer new stations install it
Tesla's connector – proprietary but increasingly open
In Europe, Tesla uses a modified Type 2 connector for AC and CCS2 for DC fast charging. Since 2022, most European Tesla Superchargers have opened up to other brands – non-Tesla drivers either use a Magic Dock-equipped stall or bring their own adapter.
- Europe: compatible with Type 2/CCS, no separate NACS connector as in the US
- Power: 72 kW (V2), 250 kW (V3), up to 350 kW (V4)
- Open network: yes, for most brands, managed through the Tesla app
Which connector fits your car?
| Vehicle | AC | DC |
|---|---|---|
| VW ID.3 / ID.4 | Type 2 (11 kW) | CCS (125 kW) |
| Tesla Model 3/Y (EU) | Type 2 (11 kW) | CCS/Tesla (250 kW) |
| BMW iX / i4 | Type 2 (11 kW) | CCS (200 kW) |
| Nissan Leaf (gen 2) | Type 2 (6.6 kW) | CHAdeMO (50 kW) |
| Hyundai IONIQ 6 | Type 2 (11 kW) | CCS (240 kW) |
Finding public chargers
Every charging station in Europe is on the charging map, filterable by connector type (CCS, Type 2, CHAdeMO), power output and network. Looking specifically for high-power stops? Filter for 150+ kW ultra-fast chargers directly on the map.
Frequently asked questions
Can a CCS car charge at a CHAdeMO station?
Not directly. Adapters exist that convert CHAdeMO to CCS, but they're rare and expensive. As a rule, stick to a connector your car actually supports.
Do all public chargers in Europe have Type 2?
In the EU, yes – Type 2 has been mandatory for public AC chargers since 2014. Newer fast chargers add CCS on top. CHAdeMO shows up less and less.
What connector do Teslas use in Europe?
Since the Model 3, European Teslas use a modified Type 2 port for AC and CCS2 for DC fast charging – unlike the US, where Tesla uses its own NACS connector.
Next up: Choosing the right charging cable · AC vs DC charging · Charging time calculator · Find all charging stations
