Type 2
Type 2 is the standard AC plug in the UK. Almost every electric car and plug-in hybrid sold here can charge with a Type 2 cable. It is what you use at home, at work and at many street and car park charge points.
It is used for AC charging, which is the slower kind. When we top up your car, a Type 2 connection is the one we'll use most often.
CCS
Rapid chargers at motorway services and public hubs usually offer CCS, which is why most drivers meet it when they head for a rapid charge point after a top-up from us.
CCS stands for Combined Charging System. It looks like a Type 2 socket with two extra pins underneath. It is used for rapid charging, and most modern electric cars sold in the UK have it. If your car has that larger socket with the two extra pins, it takes CCS.
CHAdeMO
CHAdeMO is a different style of rapid charging plug. It is found on older Nissan Leafs and on some other older models. Newer cars have mostly moved to CCS, so CHAdeMO is less common now, but plenty of older cars are still on the road.
If you drive an older Nissan Leaf, say so when you ring. It is the car most often found with this socket, and we carry the cable for it.
Why it matters when you're stuck
The plug decides which cable we use and which charge points you can use afterwards. A car with CHAdeMO needs a rapid charger that has a CHAdeMO lead, and those are getting harder to find. It's worth knowing before you set off to your charger.
How to check your own car
The quickest way is to look at the charging flap on your car and open it. Then:
- A round socket with a flat edge along the top is usually Type 2
- The same shape with two large extra holes underneath is CCS
- A large, round, chunky socket, often sitting beside a smaller one, is usually CHAdeMO
- Your handbook or the car's charging screen will confirm it
What to tell us on the call
If you know the plug type, say so. If you don't, don't worry. The make, model and year of your car is enough, and we'll work it out with you.
We carry all three plug types, so we don't need to turn up and find we have the wrong cable. Our charger is 7.5 kW, and it works as a top-up to get you to a public charge point. A 30 minute charge adds about 10 to 12 miles.
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