If you’ve spotted the CHAdeMO socket at a rapid charger and wondered whether you need to buy a cable for it, you don’t. CHAdeMO is a DC rapid-charging standard that’s always tethered: the cable lives permanently at the charger. What you almost certainly do need is a Type 2 AC cable for everyday slow and fast charging at home or at a destination charger. We’ll explain exactly what CHAdeMO is, which cars still use it, and what that means for the cable in your boot.
The short answer: CHAdeMO is a DC rapid-charging standard
CHAdeMO is a DC rapid-charging standard developed in Japan and used on early electric vehicles sold in the UK, including older Nissan Leafs and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. It delivers direct current at speeds typically up to 50 kW. The cable is always built into the charger, so there is nothing to buy or carry.
Under IEC 61851-1, the international standard that defines EV conductive charging modes, CHAdeMO rapid charging falls under Mode 4, which covers DC charging via an off-board charger. In Mode 4, the charger unit itself converts AC mains power to DC and delivers it to the vehicle through a fixed, permanently attached cable. That is why you will never find a loose CHAdeMO cable for sale: by technical definition, the cable belongs to the charger, not the car.
This matters practically. When you pull into a motorway services or a car park rapid charger, you pick up the tethered CHAdeMO cable, plug it into your car’s CHAdeMO port, and charge. No cable from your boot required.
What “DC rapid” actually means
DC (direct current) charging bypasses the car’s onboard charger and delivers power directly to the battery. This is what enables rapid charging speeds. AC charging (the type you use at home, at work, or at a destination charger) passes through the car’s onboard charger first, which limits speed to the charger’s rated capacity (typically 3.7 kW at 16A or 7.4 kW at 32A on single-phase supply). DC rapid chargers sidestep that bottleneck entirely, which is why a 50 kW CHAdeMO charger can add roughly 80 miles of range in 30 minutes where a home wallbox might take several hours for the same.
Why CHAdeMO cables are always tethered at the charger
Because Mode 4 DC charging places the power conversion unit inside the chargepoint, not the car, the cable is an integral part of the charger’s electrical circuit. It cannot be separated safely for individual sale or use. This is consistent across all DC rapid standards: CCS cables are equally tethered, for the same reason.
Which UK cars use CHAdeMO?
CHAdeMO DC rapid charging is found on a specific set of older vehicles that were sold new in the UK, primarily Japanese EVs from the period before CCS became the European standard of choice. If you drive one of the following, your car has a CHAdeMO rapid port.
CHAdeMO cars: the full list
- Row 1: Nissan Leaf 24 kWh | 2011-2015 | CHAdeMO (DC rapid) | Type 1 (AC slow/fast)
- Row 2: Nissan Leaf 30 kWh | 2015-2017 | CHAdeMO (DC rapid) | Type 1 (AC slow/fast)
- Row 3: Nissan Leaf 40 kWh | 2018-2022 | CHAdeMO (DC rapid) | Type 2 (AC slow/fast)
- Row 4: Nissan Leaf 62 kWh e+ | 2019-2023 | CHAdeMO (DC rapid) | Type 2 (AC slow/fast)
- Row 5: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 2014-2021 | CHAdeMO (DC rapid) | Type 1 (AC slow/fast)
- Row 6: Mitsubishi i-MiEV | 2010-2016 | CHAdeMO (DC rapid) | Type 1 (AC slow/fast)
As the table makes clear, all CHAdeMO cars also have a separate AC charging port for slow and fast AC charging. The type of that AC port varies by model and year, which brings us to the most commonly misunderstood detail about the Nissan Leaf in particular.
The Nissan Leaf: two generations, two AC connector types
The Nissan Leaf is not one car from a charging perspective: it is two. The original Leaf (24 kWh and 30 kWh models, sold in the UK from 2011 to approximately 2017) uses a Type 1 AC inlet for slow and fast AC charging alongside its CHAdeMO DC port. You can read more about what a Type 1 charging cable is and whether yours is the correct standard for your chargepoint.
The updated Leaf (40 kWh and 62 kWh models, from approximately 2018) switched to a Type 2 AC inlet for AC charging, in line with the European standard that became mandatory for new vehicles. Both generations retained CHAdeMO for DC rapid charging throughout, so if you have a newer Leaf, you use CHAdeMO at rapids and Type 2 AC everywhere else. The full breakdown of which Nissan Leaf charging cable you need is covered in our dedicated Nissan Leaf charging cable guide.
This distinction is confirmed in Manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets for both the ZE0/AZE0 (first-generation) and ZE1 (second-generation) Leaf platforms, which specify the respective J1772 (Type 1) and IEC 62196-2 (Type 2) inlet types for AC input.
CHAdeMO vs CCS: what’s the difference?
CCS (Combined Charging System) is the DC rapid standard used by virtually every new EV sold in the UK today. CHAdeMO was more common before roughly 2018, but no major manufacturer now launches UK models with it. CCS supports faster speeds, wider charger compatibility, and is backed by European regulations, making it the UK’s dominant rapid-charging standard.
- CHAdeMO column:
- Standard: CHAdeMO (DC rapid, Mode 4 per IEC 61851-1)
- Connector: Large oval with locking lever, two large DC pins
- Typical power: Up to 50 kW (some sites up to 100 kW)
- Tethered at charger: Yes, always
- Cable to buy: None required
- UK car examples: Nissan Leaf (24/30/40/62 kWh), Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, i-MiEV
- New UK vehicles: None (last launched ~2020)
- Market status: Legacy / phase-out
- CCS column:
- Standard: CCS Combo 2 (DC rapid, Mode 4)
- Connector: Type 2 upper + two large DC pins below
- Typical power: 50-350 kW
- Tethered at charger: Yes, always
- Cable to buy: None required
- UK car examples: All modern EVs (Tesla Model 3/Y, VW ID.4, BMW iX, Hyundai Ioniq 5, etc.)
- New UK vehicles: All new EVs since ~2018
- Market status: Current standard
Why the UK is standardising on CCS
Every EV sold new in the UK since approximately 2018 uses Type 2 as its AC inlet and CCS for DC rapid charging, a consequence of European regulation requiring IEC 62196-2 compatibility on new passenger vehicles. CHAdeMO, though still present on a significant portion of existing public rapid chargepoints, receives no new vehicle pipeline. New charger installations increasingly offer CCS only, with some operators removing CHAdeMO heads as units are replaced.
If you are buying a new EV today, it will use CCS for DC rapid charging and Type 2 for AC. CHAdeMO is relevant only if you already own one of the vehicles listed above.
Do I need to buy a CHAdeMO cable?
No. CHAdeMO rapid chargers are always tethered: the cable is fixed to the unit. There is no separate CHAdeMO cable to purchase. What you do need is a Type 2 AC cable for slow and fast AC charging at home, at work, or at a destination charge point, where untethered sockets are standard.
The cable you actually need: Type 2 AC
Here is the practical reality for most CHAdeMO car owners:
- Rapid charging (CHAdeMO DC): You use the tethered cable at the charger. No cable to buy or carry.
- Home or workplace charging (AC): Most wallboxes have an untethered Type 2 socket. You need a cable from the wallbox to your car’s AC inlet: Type 2 to Type 2 if you have a newer Leaf (40/62 kWh), or Type 2 to Type 1 if you have an older Leaf, Outlander PHEV, or i-MiEV.
- Public destination charging (AC): The same cable works at lamp-post chargers, car park bollards, and most slow/fast AC public chargepoints.
Our Type 2 cables are rated IP55, meaning they handle rain and snow without issue. That matters for a cable that lives in your boot and gets plugged in outdoors. Do not submerge them.
CHAdeMO’s status in the UK today
CHAdeMO is in a managed decline in the UK. No new vehicle launched for the UK market in recent years includes it, and the standard is absent from all EVs sold since approximately 2020. Rapid chargers with CHAdeMO sockets remain on the network, but new installations predominantly offer CCS only. Existing CHAdeMO vehicles will continue to charge normally.
Is CHAdeMO being phased out?
Yes, in practice. The CHAdeMO Association continues to maintain the standard, and a higher-power variant (ChaoJi, targeting up to 900 kW) exists on paper, but no UK or European vehicle manufacturer has committed to it. The European regulatory environment clearly favours CCS, and the pipeline of CHAdeMO-capable new vehicles in the UK has been empty for several years.
This does not mean existing chargers will vanish overnight. Many rapid chargepoint operators maintain CHAdeMO heads alongside CCS to serve the existing fleet: the Nissan Leaf remains one of the most common used EVs in the UK, and demand for CHAdeMO charging persists on that basis. But if you are making a long-term charging infrastructure decision, CHAdeMO should be treated as a legacy connector, not a future-facing one.
What this means if you own a CHAdeMO car
Owning a CHAdeMO vehicle in 2026 is entirely workable. Rapid chargepoints with CHAdeMO are still widely available, and your everyday AC charging is unaffected, since it runs through your Type 1 or Type 2 AC port regardless. The practical implication is that you should carry the correct AC cable, since that is the connector type you will use most often and where untethered sockets are standard.
If you are unsure which AC cable your specific car needs, our Nissan Leaf charging cable guide covers every Leaf variant in detail.
Frequently asked questions
What does CHAdeMO stand for?
CHAdeMO stands for “CHArge de MOve,” a name coined by the CHAdeMO Association in Japan. It is a DC rapid-charging protocol developed jointly by Japanese automakers and the Tokyo Electric Power Company, and it became associated in the UK primarily with early Nissan and Mitsubishi electric vehicles.
Do I need to buy a CHAdeMO cable?
No. CHAdeMO rapid chargers are always tethered. The charging cable is permanently attached to the chargepoint unit. There is no separate CHAdeMO cable to purchase or carry. The cable you do need is a Type 2 AC cable for slow and fast AC charging, which is where most of your day-to-day charging happens.
Which UK cars have CHAdeMO charging?
The main UK vehicles with CHAdeMO DC rapid-charging ports are the Nissan Leaf (24 kWh and 30 kWh models), the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and the first-generation Mitsubishi i-MiEV. The Nissan Leaf 40 kWh and 62 kWh also have CHAdeMO for DC rapid charging, paired with a Type 2 AC inlet. These are all older or discontinued models; no new UK vehicle has launched with CHAdeMO since approximately 2020.
What AC cable does a Nissan Leaf need?
It depends on the model. The older Nissan Leaf (24 kWh and 30 kWh, up to approximately 2017) uses a Type 1 AC inlet for slow and fast charging. The newer Leaf (40 kWh and 62 kWh, from approximately 2018) uses a Type 2 AC inlet. Both generations use CHAdeMO for DC rapid charging. Our Nissan Leaf charging cable guide has the full breakdown by registration year.
Is CHAdeMO being phased out?
Yes, effectively. No major manufacturer now sells new vehicles in the UK with CHAdeMO. All new EVs use CCS (Combined Charging System) for DC rapid charging. CHAdeMO sockets still exist on many public rapid chargers, and cars already on the road will continue to use them, but the standard has no active new-vehicle pipeline in the UK or Europe.
What is the difference between CHAdeMO and CCS?
CHAdeMO and CCS are both DC rapid-charging standards, but they use different connectors and are found on different vehicles. CHAdeMO is a legacy standard used on older Japanese EVs. CCS (Combined Charging System) is the current European standard supported by all new EVs. CCS chargers are now more widely installed on new UK infrastructure, support higher power levels (up to 350 kW on compatible vehicles), and are the standard specified under European vehicle regulations. Both are always tethered at the charger.
Can I use a CHAdeMO charger with an adapter?
Not practically in the UK. There are no widely available, type-approved CHAdeMO-to-CCS or CHAdeMO-to-Type-2 consumer adapters for the UK market. If your car has CHAdeMO, you use CHAdeMO rapid chargepoints as-is. For AC charging, you use the appropriate Type 1 or Type 2 AC cable for your specific vehicle, which is the cable worth buying.