Drive Green

EV Connectors

EV Charging Connections

The first thing you need to know regarding charging your car is your car’s charging connection.

Most EV’s have 2 charging connections – one for rapid charging and one for the slower rate fast charging.

Charging at home or on a public Fast Charger

When charging at home or on a public fast charger you will plug into your car using what is its smaller fast charging socket.

There are two different connections your EV may have depending on age. All newer EV’s have a type 2 socket, which is now the standard connection. Some earlier EV’s however may have a type 1 socket, which is slightly smaller.

Into this socket, you will plug the lead from either your 3-pin charging lead, the lead from your home charge point, or your public charging lead that you use to plug into a public fast charger (as these do not have a built-in lead.)

Whether your car has a type one or type 2 connection is largely irrelevant as your car will be provided with a lead that fits its socket at one end, and then either a 13amp plug at the other end or a universal type 2 socket at the charge point end.

Charging at a Rapid Charge Point

There are 3 different types of rapid charging connections, and you need to be sure that the charge point you intend to use has a connecter that will fit your EV.

There are 3 rapid charging connections:

CCS

This is fast becoming the standard rapid charging connection on most new EV’s, and it is the connection you will find on BMW’s, VW’s, Newer Kia and Hyundai models, Peugeots, and newer Tesla models, etc. All new rapid charger installations have to have CCS as one of their connections.

CHAdeMO

This connection is historically favoured by the Asian manufacturers and is present on Nissan Leafs and some of the earlier EVs, such as the early Kia Souls. It is a completely separate large round port on the cars that have it.

AC Rapid

This is a less common connection and is used by the Renault Zoe, and the Smart cars, although the newer Zoe has the option of a CCS port for anyone who really plans to be rapid charging their car, as AC rapid charging connections are becoming increasingly harder to find.

With regards to cables, all rapid chargers have a built-in lead so you don’t need any additional lead to charge at one of these charge points.

Zap Map

Rapid Chargers on Zap Map

The rapid chargers are the purple pins on the Zap map, and you can filter to have a zap map to just show the charge points with rapid charging connections that suit your vehicle in the filter menu.

Post Author

Picture of Richard Norris

Richard Norris

Richard is the driving force behind Drive Greens eco-goals. Richard has been involved in the sustainable living and renewable energy sector for many years and his expertise has brought success to several green businesses. His background has a huge influence on Drive Green’s direction and message.
February 18, 2022

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