CCS and Type 2 are not two competing options. They are two halves of the same system, and almost every modern EV sold in the UK uses both. Type 2 is your everyday cable, the one you plug into a wallbox at home or an AC charger in a car park. CCS is the rapid charging connector at motorway services and charging hubs, and it is always tethered to the charger. You never need to buy a CCS cable.
CCS and Type 2 work together, not against each other
The confusion is understandable. You might see your car’s spec sheet list “CCS2 + Type 2” as the charge port, or see the charge port door open to reveal something that looks like one connector with two sections. That is exactly what it is.
Almost every EV sold in the UK from 2018 onwards has a CCS Combo 2 inlet. This single inlet handles both AC and DC charging:
- Upper section: a standard Type 2 socket, which accepts a Type 2 plug for AC home and public charging
- Full port (upper + lower): a CCS socket that accepts the tethered CCS cable at rapid chargers for DC fast charging
One car, one charge port, two connectors that each use part (or all) of it.
- Type 2 (IEC 62196-2): 7 pins in D-shaped housing (L1, L2, L3, N, Earth, CP, PP). AC only. Max 22kW. User-supplied cable. Badge: You need a cable, Type 2 to Type 2
- CCS Combo 2 (IEC 62196-3): Same 7 AC pins upper section as Type 2, PLUS 2 large DC pins (DC+, DC-) below in extended housing. DC rapid charging. Always tethered at charger. Max 350kW DC. Badge: Tethered at charger, no cable to buy
- Labels: upper zone AC section (Type 2, 7 pins) in blue; lower zone DC addition (CCS, 2 DC pins) in red
- Key message panel: One car inlet, with a Type 2 plug for AC and a CCS plug at rapid chargers
For a full explanation of what the Type 2 seven pins do and how they deliver 7.4kW and 22kW in the same cable, see our Type 2 cable explainer.
What is Type 2? (AC charging, cable required)
Type 2 is the connector for AC charging, the everyday charging method. Defined in IEC 62196-2, it is the mandatory standard for all public AC charge points in the UK and Europe since 2013. Seven pins in a flat-bottomed D-shaped housing. Both ends of the cable you buy have Type 2 connectors.
Where you use your Type 2 cable: - Your home wallbox (if untethered, meaning a socket on the wall rather than a cable attached) - Public AC destination chargers at supermarkets, hotels, and car parks - Workplace charge points - Any public AC charge point where you supply your own cable
Power levels: 7.4kW on a single-phase supply (most UK homes, 32A), or up to 22kW on a three-phase supply (some workplaces and public charge points, 32A).
You buy and own this cable. You carry it in the boot for public charging sessions and plug it into your home wallbox every evening.
What is CCS? (DC rapid charging, always tethered)
CCS stands for Combined Charging System. It is the connector for DC rapid charging, the fast top-up method at motorway services, dedicated charging hubs, and some petrol station forecourts.
Physically, CCS Combo 2 takes the Type 2 upper section (seven pins) and adds two large DC pins below it. This is why it’s called “Combined”: it combines AC and DC in one connector format. The full CCS Combo 2 connector is standardised in IEC 62196-3.
How rapid charging works: when you plug a CCS connector into your car’s charge port at a rapid charger, DC power is pushed directly into the battery, bypassing the car’s onboard AC-to-DC converter entirely. This is how speeds of 50kW, 100kW, 150kW, and even 350kW are possible: no onboard charger limitation applies. The charger controls the current and voltage directly.
CCS cables are always permanently attached to the rapid charger. You drive up, pick up the tethered CCS cable hanging from the unit, plug it into your car, pay via the charger’s touchscreen or app, and charge. The cable belongs to the charging station, and you do not bring one.
How one charge port handles both: the CCS Combo 2 inlet explained
The elegance of CCS Combo 2 is that it solves the two-charger problem with one port.
The upper half: your Type 2 AC socket
The top portion of a CCS Combo 2 inlet is a standard Type 2 socket. Your Type 2 to Type 2 cable plugs directly into this upper section. The two DC pin slots at the bottom of the port are empty and unused during AC charging. This is exactly how you charge at home every day.
The lower half: the two DC pins added for CCS
When a CCS rapid charger cable is connected, the full connector occupies both the upper Type 2 section and the two DC pin slots below. The Type 2 CP and PP pins are still used for initial handshaking; the DC pins then carry the high-current direct current.
How the car knows which to use
The car reads the incoming connector via the CP and PP pins. A Type 2 plug triggers AC Mode 3 charging protocol (IEC 61851-1). A CCS plug triggers DC rapid charge protocol. The electronics manage this automatically. The driver plugs in and the car handles the rest.
The AC vs DC split: which charger type uses which connector
- Charger type | Connector | Max speed | Tethered? | Cable to buy?
- Home wallbox (Mode 3 AC) | Type 2 | 7.4kW | No (usually) | Yes, Type 2 to Type 2
- Public AC destination (22kW) | Type 2 | Up to 22kW | Sometimes no | Yes, Type 2 to Type 2 (3-phase)
- Rapid DC (50-150kW) | CCS Combo 2 | 50-150kW | Yes | No
- Ultra-rapid DC (150-350kW) | CCS Combo 2 | Up to 350kW | Yes | No
- Public AC (lamp post / on-street) | Type 2 | 3.7-7.4kW | No | Yes, Type 2 to Type 2
The dividing line is simple: AC = Type 2 connector, you supply the cable. DC = CCS connector, the charger supplies the cable. Every time.
Do I need to buy a CCS cable?
No.
This is the question we hear most often from new EV owners. The answer is always no.
Every rapid charger that delivers DC power via CCS has its own permanently attached cable. The cable is part of the charger installation, not something the driver supplies. You connect it, charge, disconnect, and leave it for the next driver.
The only cable you need to buy is a Type 2 to Type 2 cable for home wallbox and untethered AC public charging.
What about Tesla? UK Tesla Model 3 and Model Y both have CCS Combo 2 inlets. At home or on AC public chargers, they use a Type 2 to Type 2 cable, the same cable as any other modern UK EV. At Tesla Superchargers, the Supercharger provides a tethered CCS cable. At non-Tesla rapid chargers, the rapid charger provides a tethered CCS cable. No cable purchase needed for rapid charging. For the full picture on Tesla charging in the UK, see our Tesla Model 3 charging cable guide.
For our full cable decision guide (which connector, which current rating, what length), see which EV charging cable do I need.
Frequently asked questions
Is CCS the same as Type 2?
No, but they are related. CCS (Combined Charging System) is a DC rapid charging connector that includes the Type 2 shape in its upper half, plus two larger DC pins below. Type 2 alone is the AC charging connector. Your car has one CCS Combo 2 inlet that accepts a Type 2 plug for AC charging and a full CCS plug for DC rapid charging.
Do I need a CCS cable to use a rapid charger?
No. Rapid chargers always have their own tethered cable with a CCS connector at the end. You pick it up, plug into your car, and charge. There is no CCS cable to buy, carry, or store. The cable you purchase is for AC charging (Type 2 to Type 2) at home and at public AC charge points.
What’s the maximum speed for Type 2 AC charging?
22kW on a three-phase supply with a 32A cable, as defined in IEC 62196-2. Most UK homes are single-phase, so the practical maximum at home is 7.4kW (32A, 230V). At three-phase workplace or public AC chargers, 22kW is achievable if your car’s onboard charger supports it, though many cap at 7.4kW or 11kW regardless.
What’s the maximum speed for CCS DC rapid charging?
It varies by charger and car. Most UK motorway rapid chargers deliver 50-150kW. Some high-power CCS chargers deliver up to 350kW, though few UK cars currently accept more than 100-150kW. CCS bypasses the car’s onboard charger entirely, which is how it achieves these speeds: direct DC power into the battery at high current.
Do Tesla cars use CCS in the UK?
Yes. All Tesla Model 3 and Model Y sold in Europe and the UK use a CCS Combo 2 inlet. They charge via a standard Type 2 to Type 2 cable at home and at AC public chargers. At rapid chargers, including Tesla Superchargers, a tethered CCS cable is provided. No CCS cable purchase needed.