Understanding how to charge your electric car is essential in this day and age, when electric vehicle adoption rates have overtaken the 1,000,000 range. And that means grasping the basics of fast charging – or, more specifically, Type 1 and Type 2 EV charging.
In this blog post, we’re here to answer – what’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 EV chargers? In addition to explaining Type 1 and Type 2 EV charging, letting you know which electric vehicles have Type 1 and Type 2 connectors and explaining the key differences between Type 1 and Type 2.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Type 1 and Type 2 EV charging.
Each electric car has either a Type 1 connector or a Type 2 connector – sometimes referred to as a ‘plug’ or ‘socket’ located on your EV, usually on the side. To charge your electric car, you need to ensure the charging cable on the charger matches your EV connector so you can plug the charging cable in. For example, a car with a Type 2 connector must use an EV charger with a Type 2 charging cable.
You could compare Type 1 and Type 2 EV charging to iPhone and Samsung chargers. While they both charge phones and charge in the same way, they require different charging cables that match their unique charging ports.
When purchasing your EV, it’s likely the charging cable will come with a Type 2 connector.
Simply put, a Type 1 EV charger has a five-pin design. Type 1 EV connectors are commonly used for electric cars in Asia. Because of this, you typically won’t find Type 1 EV chargers in the UK, nor electric cars with a Type 1 connector – this is especially the case with new electric vehicles.
That said, in rare cases, you might find a Type 1 connector on older electric cars, like the first generation of the Nissan Leaf or the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Untethered, or sometimes called socketed, home EV chargers can come in the Type 1 form, but tethered chargers are more common.
Type 1 EV charger
A Type 2 EV charger has a seven-pin design, and is the most common EV charger type in the UK, given the wide adoption of Type 2 electric cars in Europe. What’s more, Type 2 EV chargers are used for fast EV charging using Alternating Current (AC). With this in mind, AC public electric car charging points (such as 7kW and 22kW EV chargers) are Type 2. Most home EV chargers come in the Type 2 form, too – especially tethered chargers.
Electric vehicles with a Type 2 connector include the VW e-Golf, Renault Zoe, Tesla Model S and most new EVs on the market.
Type 2 EV charger
There are several differences between Type 1 and Type 2 EV chargers:
The starkest and most obvious difference between Type 1 and Type 2 EV chargers is the design of the connector. Type 1 EV connectors have a five-pin design, usually taking on a circular design. In comparison, Type 2 EV connectors have seven pins.
Unfortunately, Type 1 EV chargers allow slower charging rates to Type 2, ranging from 3.6kW to 7.4kW, as they are limited to a single-phase electricity supply. This means if you invest in a Type 1 EV charger, you won’t be able to charge faster than 7kW power rate (the highest rate you can charge with a single-phase electricity supply).
On the other hand, Type 2 EV chargers can handle both single-phase and three-phase charging, offering greater flexibility in charging speeds and power levels. This makes them suitable for both residential and public charging stations as they can reach the high charging rate of 22kW Alternating Current (AC) at home and up to 43kW at certain public chargers.
Please note that to take advantage of the highest charging rates, you won’t be using your Type 1 or Type 2 connector. Instead, you will be using your CCS or CHAdeMO connectors.
Type 1 electric vehicles are more commonly found in electric cars in North America and Asia rather than in Europe, meaning it’s unlikely you’ll find public chargers offering Type 1 charging.
Type 2 connectors, on the other hand, have become the standard in Europe and are increasingly being adopted in other parts of the world, even in regions where Type 1 connectors were historically used.
In fact, the EU implemented legislation in 2017 that stated all public charging stations must be Type 2, which led to an increase in European car manufacturers only producing Type 2 electric vehicles. So, when you’re out and about in the UK, it’s likely you’ll encounter a Type 2 EV charger.
Because of its design, you can’t lock a Type 1 EV charging cable into place, unlike a Type 2 EV cable that has locking pins, offering an additional layer of protection. Although, there are alternative ways to protect your EV charger and its cable.
Below is a list of type one electric cars that use the Type 1 charging cable and, therefore, can only charge with a Type 1 EV charger:
| Citroen C-Zero (2016-2020) | Nissan Leaf Mk1 (2012 – 2017) |
| Ford Focus Electric | Peugeot iOn EV (2011-2018) |
| Ford C-MAX Energi (2013-2017) | Renault Fluence (Pre-2014) |
| Kia Soul EV (2017) | Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (Pre-2017) |
| Mitsubishi I-MiEV | Vauxhall Ampera |
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | Renault Kangoo Phase 1 |
All Teslas are Type 2 and use Type 2 EV chargers, not only in the UK but in the world.
What’s special about the Tesla is that you can charge your Tesla with both AC and DC with the Type 2 connector via the Tesla supercharger network.
If you are wondering if your electric car is Type 1 or Type 2, look at the design of the EV charging connector on your car. If it’s a five-pin design, it’s Type 1, and if it’s a seven-pin, it’s Type 2.
If you’re still struggling, look in your electric car’s manual, or feel free to give us a call.
Whether you should invest in a Type 1 or Type 2 EV charger depends on whether your electric car is Type 1 or Type 2.
That being said, if your EV is Type 1 and you’re planning on switching to an EV with a Type 2 connector, we’d recommend investing in a Type 2 EV charger, as the majority of electric vehicles are Type 2, and it’s likely that the Type 1 EV connector will phase out over the years in the UK. In the meantime, you could use an EV charging cable type 1 to type 2 before you purchase a new EV model.
Opting for a Type 2 connector might be considered more future-proof, especially if you’re planning to own an EV for several years. The broader international adoption of Type 2 connectors suggests that they will remain relevant as EV infrastructure continues to develop.
Yes, you can purchase EV charging cable adapters – EV charging cable adapter Type 1 to Type 2 and EV charging cable adapter Type 2 to 1. However, if you’re in the UK and your EV has a Type 1 connector, you should opt for a Type 1 compatible EV charger or a universal home charger.
However, it’s important to note that you won’t be able to lock your Type 1 to Type 2 adapter into place. But there are other ways to ensure security with home EV chargers.
The key differences between Type 1 and Type 2 EV chargers lie in their design, charging capabilities, regional adoption, and locking mechanisms. But the design is the most prominent difference. Type 1 EV chargers have a circular five-pin design that can’t lock, while Type 2 EV chargers have a seven pin layout, and can lock your EV cable in place.
Additionally, Type 1 chargers offer slower charging rates (3kW to 7.4kW) due to their single-phase electricity supply limitation, whereas Type 2 chargers support both single-phase and three-phase charging, providing greater flexibility with speeds up to 22kW AC at home and 43kW at public stations.
Type 1 plugs are more common in North America and Asia, too, while Type 2 has become the European standard, even mandated by legislation in 2017 for public charging stations. Type 2 connectors also offer locking pins for added security, unlike Type 1 connectors.
Browse our range of market-leading electric vehicle chargers, available to cater to both Type 1 and Type 2 EV chargers. As an OZEV-approved, experienced and accredited EV charger installation company, we can install home EV chargers wherever you are in the UK with fast lead times.
If you are thinking about getting an EV home charger installed, please get in touch with us for helpful and unbiased advice. Call us directly on 03333 44 96 99 or fill out the contact form below. Our expert team is available seven days a week, including bank holidays, and is always happy to help give free advice and support.
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This type of electric charger has it's own cable to charge your car.
This type of electric charger requires a seperate cable to charge your car.
Spread over a 60 month period.
Tenants and homeowners are eligible for finance.
You decide the amount of months.
Minimum of £1000.
We will contact you to process the credit application. Approval is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. 13.9% APR representative. T&Cs apply.
Your order is not confirmed until your application has been approved.
We lay SWA cable laid at 600mm deep, with a protective cable warning tape laid 150mm above the cable. These are laid on a sand or sifted sand soil bed then backfilled.
We position overhead cables at a minimum height of 3.5m and are run along a catenary wire. The cable run should not be accessible to vehicles.
Standard Installation
Our instant price is fixed if it falls within our standard installation package plus any additions that you have selected (extra cabling for example). This package covers the majority of homes in the UK. Before we undertake your installation we will carry out a digital survey to check that nothing has been missed. After reviewing the survey results some additional work may be required in order to complete your installation safely and to the required standards. If this is the case, we will contact you well before the installation date and advise the cost of any required work. You can then continue with your installation, or alternatively we will refund you in full if you do not want to proceed.
Included in our standard installation is :
• Fitting of a single phase charge point to a brick or plaster wall or other suitable permanent structure
• Up to 10 metres of cable, run and neatly clipped to the wall between the electricity supply meter / distribution board and the charge point.
• Routing of the cable through a drilled hole in a wall up to 500mm (20 inches) thick if this is needed.
• The fitting and testing of electrical connections and protections required for the charge point.
• An additional three way consumer unit, if required
• Installation of a Type A RCBO in an RCBO enclosure
• Up to 3 metres of plastic trunking to conceal interior wiring.
• An O-pen earth protection device if the charge point requires it. (This is NOT an earth rod)
• Up to 4 hours of labour from your installer to complete the work.
• Electrical testing of the whole installation.
• Handover and setup of the charge point and any app that may be needed.
Not included in our standard installation (additional work) :
• Where the installation requires additional cabling over and above the amount you have told us about.
• Upgrade/replacement of the main incoming supply fuse where the local DNO (eg Northern Powergrid) would need to attend site.
• If the charge point is to be mounted on a post/pedestal rather than an existing wall and where you have not selected a post as an extra cost option in your order.
• Installation of a charge point to a three phase supply.
• Where gas and water mains bonding (earthing) is not in place at your property. If this is not in place, additional work would be required before installation of the charge point.
• Any groundwork that has not been selected during the order process.
A Surge Protection Device is not included in our standard installation.
What else you need to know :
• On the day of installation, please ensure that the area around your consumer unit (fuse box), incoming electricity supply meter and proposed charge point location (including where the cable is expected to be run) is clear and free of obstructions.
• We will need your WiFi password as part of the installation process in order to connect your charge point to the internet. Please have this available for the installer. Details will not be kept.
• The charge point must be on your own designated off road parking.
• The charger will be fixed in line with current guidelines at a height where it cannot be hit by a vehicle.
• Our installers are not able to enter loft spaces; lift floorboards or flooring; take apart any furniture of work above a height of 2m. If you anticipate that any of this may be required, then please contact us and we can discuss in more detail and provide you with a quotation.
• Should there be extreme weather conditions our installers may not be able to continue with you installation if it is not safe to do so (for example flooding). They will always do their best to complete the work where they can.
If you have any questions then please contact our customer service team who will be happy to help. Please also read our terms and conditions.
