What Is a
Type 2 EV Charger?
The UK and EU standard AC charging connector. A 7-pin Type 2 plug appears on every UK home wallbox and most public AC chargers. Found on every modern UK EV's charging port. Here is the plain English explanation of what Type 2 actually means.
Type 2 is the standard AC charging connector used on all UK and EU home EV chargers and most public AC chargers. The 7-pin connector handles up to 22kW of charging power. Every modern UK EV has a Type 2 port for AC charging. Most also have a CCS connector (which combines Type 2 with two extra DC pins) for rapid DC charging. Type 2 was standardised in 2014 under IEC 62196 and replaced the earlier Type 1 connector that some early UK EVs used.
UK and EU Standard
Type 2 is the official UK and EU standard AC charging connector. Used on every modern UK home charger and EV.
Maximum Power
Type 2 connectors handle up to 22kW of three-phase AC charging. Single-phase UK home installs typically use 7kW maximum.
Connector Pins
Type 2 uses 7 pins: 3 phase, 1 neutral, 1 earth, 2 communication. Standardised under IEC 62196.
Standardisation Year
Type 2 became the EU mandatory standard in 2014. Earlier UK EVs sometimes used Type 1 which is now obsolete.
What this page covers
How the UK Type 2 EV charging connector works
Type 2 is the standard AC charging connector across the UK and EU. The 7-pin design handles single-phase or three-phase AC current at up to 22kW total power. Every modern UK EV has a Type 2 port. Every UK home wallbox uses a Type 2 connector at the cable end. Public AC chargers (slow and fast) use Type 2 sockets that you plug your portable cable into.
What the 7 pins do
Three phase pins (L1, L2, L3) carry the AC current. One neutral pin completes the circuit. One earth pin provides safety grounding. Two communication pins (control pilot and proximity pilot) handle the digital handshake between car and charger that confirms a safe connection before energising the cable. The handshake is what makes EV charging safe in any UK weather including heavy rain.
Single-phase vs three-phase use
UK home electricity is typically single-phase 100A supply which limits Type 2 charging to 7kW. The Type 2 connector still has all 7 pins but only one phase pin carries current. Three-phase UK installations (rare in domestic, more common in commercial) can use the full 22kW capacity by activating all three phase pins simultaneously.
EU countries have more three-phase domestic supply than the UK. UK home chargers that support 22kW three-phase exist but most UK households cannot use them due to the single-phase supply limit.
Type 2 vs CCS for rapid charging
Type 2 handles AC charging only. For DC rapid charging (50kW+), most UK EVs use CCS Combo 2 (Combined Charging System). CCS combines the Type 2 connector with two extra DC pins below it. The car's charging port has a single CCS socket that accepts either Type 2 (AC) or CCS (DC) plugs depending on which charger is being used. The combo design means UK EV drivers only need one port for both home AC and public DC rapid charging.
Older Type 1 connector
Type 1 is the older AC charging standard, originally developed in North America and used by some early UK EVs (older Nissan Leaf, original BMW i3, older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV). Type 1 has 5 pins and handles single-phase only at up to 7.4kW. The UK and EU standardised on Type 2 in 2014 making Type 1 obsolete for new vehicles. Some used UK EVs still have Type 1 ports requiring Type 1 to Type 2 adapter cables for use with modern UK chargers.
UK EV charging connector types
How UK EV charging connectors evolved
2010-2014: Type 1 era
Early UK EVs (Nissan Leaf, BMW i3) used Type 1 connector imported from North America. Type 2 also emerging as European alternative.
2014: EU Type 2 mandate
European Union mandates Type 2 as the standard AC charging connector. UK aligned with this standard.
2017+: CCS rapid standard
CCS Combo 2 emerges as the UK and EU rapid DC charging standard. Combines Type 2 AC capability with DC fast charging.
2026: Universal compatibility
Almost all modern UK EVs use Type 2 for AC and CCS for DC. Older Type 1 EVs need adapter cables for newer chargers.
Key UK Type 2 facts
UK and EU standard
Type 2 is the official standard AC charging connector for all UK and EU EVs. Universal compatibility in modern UK market.
7 pins for safe charging
Three phase, neutral, earth and two communication pins. Communication handshake makes charging safe in any weather.
Up to 22kW capacity
Type 2 handles up to 22kW three-phase AC. UK single-phase domestic limits this to 7kW typically.
CCS extends Type 2 for rapid
CCS Combo 2 adds two DC pins below the Type 2 connector for rapid charging. Single port handles both AC and DC charging.
Type 2 (modern UK)
- 7 pins (3 phase, neutral, earth, 2 comms)
- Up to 22kW three-phase
- Up to 7kW single-phase
- All modern UK EVs
- EU 2014 standard
- Universal UK compatibility
Type 1 (older UK)
- 5 pins (1 phase, neutral, earth, 2 comms)
- Single-phase only
- Up to 7.4kW maximum
- Pre-2017 some UK EVs only
- North American origin
- Adapter needed for modern UK chargers
Charging connector standards are one practical EV ownership detail. The wider EV Charger Guidance hub covers home charger install, the buying decision, charging cost and the dozens of practical questions UK drivers ask about everyday EV ownership.
If you want the charger format detail, our guide on what is a tethered ev charger covers it. The untethered alternative is in what is an untethered ev charger. For weather safety see can you charge electric car in rain.
Common questions
Does my EV use a Type 2 connector?
Can I charge a Type 1 EV at a Type 2 charger?
Do I need a Type 2 charger or Type 1?
What is the difference between Type 2 and CCS?
Why do UK home chargers use Type 2 not CCS?
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