Two connector types. One decision. If your car was sold new in the UK after 2018, this comparison probably doesn’t apply to you — you have Type 2, end of story. But if you bought a used Nissan Leaf, a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, or an early Kia Soul EV, you are almost certainly looking at a Type 1 inlet. Knowing the difference tells you exactly which cable to buy, and whether you’ll need an adapter cable for the UK’s public charging network.
At a glance: the key differences in one table
| Type 1 (SAE J1772) | Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pin count | 5 | 7 |
| Standard | SAE J1772 | IEC 62196-2 |
| Phase | Single-phase only | Single or three-phase |
| Max power (32A) | 7.4kW | 7.4kW (1ph) / 22kW (3ph) |
| Locking mechanism | Manual thumb-button | Auto-lock from car |
| UK market status | Legacy (pre-2018 imports) | Current standard |
| UK public network | Requires Type 2→Type 1 cable | Native fit |
| Typical model years | 2011–2018 | 2013–present |
If you need to go deeper on either connector, our Type 2 explainer covers the seven-pin layout in detail, and our Type 1 explainer covers the SAE J1772 connector and which cars use it.
What is a Type 1 connector? (SAE J1772, 5-pin, single-phase)
Type 1 is the older of the two AC charging connectors used on UK roads. Standardised in SAE J1772 — a North American standard developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers — it uses five pins in a round housing approximately 43mm in diameter.
The five pins are: - L1 — the single live AC phase - N — neutral - Earth/Ground — safety earth - CP (Control Pilot) — communication between the charger and car; agrees safe current before power flows - PP (Proximity Pilot) — detects that a cable is plugged in and signals the car not to move
Type 1 is single-phase only. It cannot carry three-phase power. This is not a cable quality issue — it is a pin architecture limitation. No adapter or upgraded cable changes this. At 32A on a UK single-phase supply, the maximum delivered power is 7.4kW.
Type 1 connectors lock into the car via a manual thumb button on the handle — press it to release. There is no automatic electronic locking from the car side, unlike Type 2.
What is a Type 2 connector? (IEC 62196-2, 7-pin, single and three-phase)
Type 2 is the UK and European standard for AC EV charging, defined in IEC 62196-2. It was mandated by the European Commission for all public AC charge points from 2013, ending the era of competing connector formats across European markets.
The seven pins are: - L1, L2, L3 — three AC phase connections (on single-phase, only L1 is active) - N — neutral - Earth — safety earth - CP (Control Pilot) — same communication function as Type 1 - PP (Proximity Pilot) — same proximity detection as Type 1
The extra two pins over Type 1 are L2 and L3. These are what enable three-phase charging — 22kW at 32A on a 400V three-phase supply. On a single-phase supply, L2 and L3 sit idle and the cable delivers 7.4kW, exactly as a Type 1 would.
A three-phase Type 2 cable works perfectly on a single-phase supply. It uses five of seven pins and delivers 7.4kW. You lose nothing. Buying three-phase costs approximately £20 more and future-proofs you for 22kW at three-phase public and workplace chargers. For a full explanation of when the upgrade makes sense, see our 7kW vs 22kW cable guide.
Type 2 connectors lock automatically when plugged into a car — the vehicle electronically engages a latch via the CP pin, preventing the cable from being removed while charging. The driver unlocks it via the key fob, app, or a button on the car.
Which UK cars use Type 1?
Type 1 (SAE J1772) vehicles on UK roads:
The BMW i3 is Type 2. This is one of the most repeated errors in online guides. The BMW i3, despite being an older vehicle (2013–2022), uses the European Type 2 inlet as defined in IEC 62196-2. It does not need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable. A standard Type 2 to Type 2 cable is the correct choice for every i3 variant. If you own a BMW i3 and are looking for cable guidance, our BMW EV charging cable guide covers the full spec.
The Nissan Leaf is perhaps the most common Type 1 vehicle on UK roads. For a full breakdown of which Leaf variant you have and what cable you need, see our Nissan Leaf charging cable guide.
The single-phase ceiling: why Type 1 is capped at 7.4kW
Type 1’s five-pin design includes only one AC phase line. This is not an arbitrary limitation — it reflects the North American single-phase domestic supply standard for which J1772 was originally designed. The UK supply system is also predominantly single-phase at 230V, so practically speaking a Type 1 vehicle in the UK experiences the same constraint: maximum 7.4kW at 32A.
The implication: even at a 22kW three-phase public charger, a Type 1 car will not exceed its onboard charger’s maximum. The car’s charging electronics cap the incoming power, typically at 3.3kW or 6.6kW depending on model. The connector type is not what causes this — the onboard charger is — but Type 1’s single-phase architecture means there is no path to three-phase charging even if you wanted one.
Type 2, by contrast, passes three-phase power when all seven pins are used. Whether a Type 2 car takes advantage depends on its onboard charger — many UK EVs cap at 7.4kW or 11kW AC regardless.
The adapter myth: can you convert Type 1 to Type 2?
This question comes up often. The answer is no — not in the way you might imagine.
There is no inline adapter that converts a Type 1 inlet into a Type 2 charging capability. The connector shapes are different; the pin layouts are incompatible; and no passive adapter could change the underlying single-phase limitation.
What you can do — and what most Type 1 owners need — is buy a Type 2 to Type 1 cable. This is a single cable with: - A Type 2 plug at the charger end (fits any UK wallbox socket or public AC charge point socket) - A Type 1 plug at the car end (fits your J1772 inlet)
This is not an adapter. It is simply a cable made for the combination. It handles Mode 3 charging normally, with the charger communicating via CP and PP as usual. There is no performance penalty.
Choosing the right cable: Type 2 to Type 1 explained
If you have a Type 1 car, your cable purchase is:
Type 2 to Type 1, 32A, 5m or 7m.
The Type 2 end connects to your home wallbox socket or any public AC untethered charge point. The Type 1 end connects to your car. The 32A rating ensures you won’t bottleneck your car’s onboard charger (even if the charger itself is 3.3kW, a 32A cable won’t restrict it). Length guidance is the same as for any cable — measure your actual cable route and add slack.
One practical note: tethered public chargers with a Type 2 cable attached cannot be used by Type 1 cars. You need an untethered socket and your own cable. Most public AC charge points in the UK have sockets (untethered), so this is rarely a blocking issue, but it is worth knowing.
For our full decision framework — including granny cable vs Mode 3, length selection, and the 3-phase reality check — see the which EV charging cable do I need guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a Type 1 or Type 2 car?
Count the pins in your charge port. Five pins in a round housing = Type 1. Seven pins in a flat-bottomed D-shaped housing = Type 2. If you’re still unsure, check your car’s handbook — it will list the AC connector standard. Every EV sold new in the UK from around 2018 onwards uses Type 2.
Is the BMW i3 Type 1 or Type 2?
Type 2. This is one of the most common mistakes in online guides. The BMW i3 uses a Type 2 inlet — the European standard as defined in IEC 62196-2 — not Type 1. If you own an i3, you need a standard Type 2 to Type 2 cable. No adapter required.
Can a Type 1 car use public charge points in the UK?
Yes, with the correct cable. Public AC charge points in the UK have Type 2 sockets (or tethered Type 2 cables). Your Type 2 to Type 1 cable plugs into the charger with its Type 2 end and into your car with its Type 1 end. Charging works exactly as normal.
Can I get a Type 1 to Type 2 adapter to convert my car?
Not in the way you might imagine. There is no inline adapter that converts a Type 1 inlet to Type 2 charging capability. What you need is a Type 2 to Type 1 cable — a single cable with a Type 2 plug at the charger end and a Type 1 plug at the car end. This is the correct solution and works at any untethered UK public or home charger.
Is Type 2 always better than Type 1?
For new or recent UK vehicles, Type 2 is simply the current standard — it’s not a question of better or worse. For practical purposes, Type 2 offers three-phase capability (up to 22kW) and is the connector type that all UK public infrastructure is built around. Type 1 is capped at 7.4kW single-phase and is a legacy standard no longer used on new UK EVs.