CHAdeMO is the Japanese DC fast-charging standard — the original quick-charge connector, developed in 2010 and used on first-generation Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, early Kia Soul EV, Citroën C-Zero, Peugeot iOn and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. If your EV has a CHAdeMO port (a round connector with two large DC pins and four signal pins, usually behind a separate flap from the AC port), you'll need a CHAdeMO cable for every public DC charge — and unlike Type 2, you almost never carry your own cable.
Wait — do I need to own a CHAdeMO cable?
Almost certainly no. Public CHAdeMO chargers are tethered — the cable lives on the charger. You drive up, take the gun off the unit, plug it into the car. CHAdeMO cables for sale are almost always for one of three specialty uses:
- Indra V2H bidirectional charger — the only mainstream UK V2H wallbox uses CHAdeMO and ships with its own cable, but replacements and longer leads are sometimes needed.
- Workshop or commercial DC charger — installers and fleets buying their own DC fast charger choose tethered or untethered; if untethered, a CHAdeMO cable is the consumable.
- Specialised V2L or testing equipment — some industrial use cases involve running CHAdeMO cables to test rigs or temporary power systems.
If you drive a Leaf or Outlander PHEV and just want to use public chargers, you don't need to buy anything — the charger has its own cable.
CHAdeMO power and physical spec
The connector supports DC at up to 400V and 125A in its original spec, raising to 500V/400A in the CHAdeMO 2.0 spec. Real-world UK public CHAdeMO chargers are 50kW (most common) or 62.5kW. Cables are heavy — about 1kg per metre due to the thick conductors required for 100A+ DC current — and physically larger than CCS or Type 2.
The future of CHAdeMO in the UK
CHAdeMO is being phased out across Europe. Almost no new EVs use it: the Nissan Leaf 2018+ kept CHAdeMO into its second generation but Nissan's newer EVs (Ariya) moved to CCS. The 2014-2018 Outlander PHEV is the most common UK CHAdeMO PHEV. Nearly all UK public charging networks are downgrading or removing CHAdeMO sockets in favour of CCS as Leaf and Outlander stocks age out. If you drive a CHAdeMO car, the practical truth is that public DC charging is getting harder; if you can charge at home, that takes the pressure off.
V2H: the one place CHAdeMO is winning
The single bright spot for CHAdeMO is bidirectional charging. Because CHAdeMO had bidirectional capability in the standard from day one (its 2010 spec includes V2X protocols), it's the only DC connector with mainstream UK V2H deployment via the Indra V2H wallbox. The first-gen Leaf and 2014-2018 Outlander PHEV are the only mass-market UK cars that can power your home from their battery. If you bought one of these in the right window, you've ended up with the cheapest used EV that can do V2H — which is currently a £4-5k feature on a new car. CCS V2H is on the standards roadmap (ISO 15118-20) but isn't shipping at consumer scale yet.
Buying a CHAdeMO cable: what to check
- Liquid-cooled or air-cooled — most consumer cables are air-cooled at 50kW. Liquid-cooled is for 100kW+ commercial use.
- Cable length — 3m is standard; 5m is offered for more flexibility around vehicle parking.
- CHAdeMO version — 1.x for 50kW use, 2.0 if you need 150kW+ (commercial only).
- Compatibility — confirm fit with your specific charger / wallbox before ordering.
Related
- Indra CHAdeMO V2H chargers — the V2H wallbox.
- CCS cables — the European DC standard.
- DC fast chargers — full DC charger range.