{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","model":{"title":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO","text":"At first, this can seem confusing, but in reality, the UK market has become very standardised. Understanding the various types of EV charging plugs is a simple way to ensure you can always connect to the correct charger.","links":[{"name":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/metadata"},{"organism":"ContentOwner","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/contentowner"},{"organism":"Container.Header","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.co.uk/_jcr_content/root/header/inherited.model.json","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/header/inherited"},{"organism":"Breadcrumb","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/"},{"name":"Electric vehicle charging","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging.html"},{"name":"Electric Vehicle Knowledge Hub","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub.html"},{"name":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/header/breadcrumb"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/header"},{"organism":"Container.Main","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"PageHeader","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO","text":"\u003Cp\u003EOne of the first things new electric car owners notice is the plug. Unlike the single, universal petrol nozzle, the world of EV charging has a few different connectors. At first, this can seem confusing, but in reality, the UK market has become very standardised. Understanding the various types of EV charging plugs is a simple way to ensure you can always connect to the correct charger. This guide will demystify the EV plug types you'll encounter in the UK, explaining what they are, what they're used for, and why you'll likely only ever need to worry about two of them.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header"},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/_jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset_cop.shellimg.jpeg/1791471662434/shell-recharge-family-using-app-uk.jpeg","width":3837,"height":1680}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset_cop"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"A Quick Guide to EV Plug Types and Compatibility:","text":"\u003Cp\u003EThe most important thing to know is that plugs are different for AC (slower) and DC (rapid) charging:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAC (Alternating Current):\u003C/b\u003E This is for your slower \"destination\" charging at home, work, or the supermarket.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDC (Direct Current):\u003C/b\u003E This is for high-speed \"en-route\" charging at rapid and ultra-rapid public charging stations, such as those on motorways.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the UK, you will primarily see four types of connectors:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EType 2 Connector:\u003C/b\u003E The UK Standard for AC Charging:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it looks like:\u003C/b\u003E A 7-pin, D-shaped connector.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it's for:\u003C/b\u003E AC (Slow and Fast) charging.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you are buying a new EV in the UK today, this is the plug you will use for all your AC charging. It's the mandated standard across Europe. You'll use this plug to connect to your 7kW home wallbox and to 22kW public chargers at supermarkets and car parks.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECCS (Combined Charging System) Connector\u003C/b\u003E: The UK Standard for DC Charging\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it looks like:\u003C/b\u003E A Type 2 connector with two large \"prongs\" (pins) added underneath.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it's for:\u003C/b\u003E DC (Rapid and Ultra-Rapid) charging.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is the \"combo\" plug that gives it its name; it combines the AC charging pins with two high-power DC charging pins. This is the dominant standard for all new cars in the UK and Europe, including Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, and Ford.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen you pull up to a 50kW or 150kW charger at a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging.html\"\u003EShell Recharge Station\u003C/a\u003E, this is the plug you will almost certainly be using. The cable is always tethered to the charging unit due to its size and power.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECHAdeMO Connector:\u003C/b\u003E The Japanese DC Standard\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it looks like:\u003C/b\u003E A large, circular connector with multiple pins.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it's for:\u003C/b\u003E DC (Rapid) charging.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECHAdeMO was an early DC charging standard, primarily championed by Japanese manufacturers. You will find this plug on older (and some new) Nissan Leafs, the Nissan e-NV200 van, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis standard is being phased out in the UK and Europe in favour of CCS. However, the CHAdeMO-equipped cars on the road will remain for a long time, so most public rapid charging stations (including Shell Recharge) will continue to offer both CHAdeMO and CCS connectors to support these drivers.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EType 1 Connector:\u003C/b\u003E The Legacy AC Plug\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it looks like:\u003C/b\u003E A 5-pin, circular connector.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat it's for:\u003C/b\u003E AC (Slow and Fast) charging.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis was an early standard for AC charging, common on first-generation EVs like the original Nissan Leaf (2010 to 2017) and cars imported from the US or Asia. \u003Cb\u003EYou will very rarely see this on new cars in the UK.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you have a car with a Type 1 socket, you likely already own a \"Type 1 to Type 2\" adapter cable. This allows you to plug the Type 2 end into a standard public charger and the Type 1 end into your car.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/text"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"Which Connector Does Your EV Use?","text":"\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf your car is new (2018+):\u003C/b\u003E It almost certainly has a \u003Cb\u003EType 2\u003C/b\u003E socket for AC charging and a CCS socket for DC charging.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf you drive a Nissan Leaf,\u003C/b\u003E you have a \u003Cb\u003EType 2\u003C/b\u003E AC socket and a \u003Cb\u003ECHAdeMO\u003C/b\u003E DC socket.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe good news? It's not as confusing as it sounds. Public chargers are built for this. \u003Cb\u003EA typical rapid charging unit will have two tethered cables: one with a CCS plug and one with a CHAdeMO plug, covering 99% of DC-capable cars.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_655430168"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"How Different Connectors Affect Charging Speed:","text":"\u003Cp\u003EThe connector itself is just the \"doorway.\" The charger provides the \u003Ci\u003Epower\u003C/i\u003E (kW). However, the \u003Ci\u003Econnector type\u003C/i\u003E determines the power you can get.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYou can only get Slow/Fast AC power (up to 22kW) from a Type 1 or Type 2 plug.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYou can only get Rapid/Ultra-Rapid DC power (50kW+) from a CCS or CHAdeMO plug.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is why your car has two different charging \"inlets,\" even though they are combined into a single flap (like the CCS system). For more details on your specific setup, you can always visit our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.shell.co.uk/help-and-support/help-centre.html\"\u003EEV charging Help and Support\u003C/a\u003E page.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_255759813"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"Find the Right Plug, Every Time, with the Shell Recharge App","text":"\u003Cp\u003EWorried you'll show up at a charger only to find it has the wrong plug? The \u003Cb\u003EShell App\u003C/b\u003E eliminates this guesswork. When you search for chargers, you can \u003Cb\u003Efilter by connector type\u003C/b\u003E. Simply tap \"CHAdeMO\" or \"CCS\" in the app, and the map will only show chargers with the exact plug you need. It's the easiest way to ensure you're constantly navigating to a compatible charger, saving you time and frustration.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_906381396"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"What’s Becoming the Global Standard?","text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe \"plug war\" is primarily over in the UK and Europe.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAC Standard: Type 2\u003C/b\u003E is the undisputed winner.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDC Standard: CCS\u003C/b\u003E is the clear winner and the standard for all new cars.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis standardisation is key to making public \u003Ca href=\"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging.html\"\u003Eelectric vehicle charging\u003C/a\u003E simple and accessible for everyone.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIn the UK, it's simple:\u003C/b\u003E Type 2 is your plug for AC (home/destination) charging. CCS is the modern standard for DC (rapid) charging. CHAdeMO exists for specific models, and Type 1 is a fading legacy. Know which DC plug your car has, use an app like Shell Recharge to filter for it, and you'll never have a problem finding the proper connection.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section/text_42343723"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main/section"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/main"},{"organism":"Container.Footer","children":[{"organism":"Breadcrumb.Large","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/"},{"name":"Electric vehicle charging","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging.html"},{"name":"Electric Vehicle Knowledge Hub","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub.html"},{"name":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/footer/breadcrumb"},{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.co.uk/_jcr_content/root/footer/inherited.model.json","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/footer/inherited"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content/root/footer"}],"model":{},"id":"/conf/shell/settings/wcm/templates/base/structure/jcr_content/root"}],"model":{"title":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO","text":"At first, this can seem confusing, but in reality, the UK market has become very standardised. Understanding the various types of EV charging plugs is a simple way to ensure you can always connect to the correct charger.","links":[{"name":"canonical","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained.html"},{"name":"errorUrl","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/error.html"},{"name":"hierarchy","value":"en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained"},{"name":"homeTitle","value":"Shell UK"},{"name":"homeUrl","value":"https://www.shell.co.uk/"},{"name":"locale","value":"en-GB"},{"name":"title","value":"EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, and CHAdeMO | Shell UK"},{"name":"textDirection","value":"ltr"},{"name":"template","value":"base"},{"name":"contentPath","value":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained"},{"name":"externalDisclaimerText","value":"Shell plc Legal Disclaimer\r\n\r\nYou are now leaving the Shell UK website.\r\n\r\nThe link you have selected will direct you to a website that is not controlled by Shell plc or any member of the Shell Group. Accordingly, neither Shell plc nor any member of the Shell Group endorses, adopts, certifies or otherwise validates the information and material contained on the linked website. This includes its sponsor and any policies, activities or services offered on the site, by any advertiser on the site or linked to the site.\r\n\r\nThank you for visiting the Shell UK website."},{"name":"themeMode"},{"name":"lastModified","value":"2026-10-28T17:12:30.357Z"},{"name":"dateModified","value":"2026-10-28T17:12Z"},{"name":"themeName","value":"shell-recharge"},{"name":"themePath","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-shell-recharge"},{"name":"themeCss","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-shell-recharge.ACSHASH23a752d535925afba7aeea6dc8e3b8f7.css"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/united-kingdom/en_gb/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-knowledge-hub/electric-vehicle-charging-connectors-explained/jcr_content"}