Charging cable Type 1 and Type 2: What’s the difference?

Electric vehicles are going to be the way the vast majority of us drive, with Type 1 Type 2 charging cables to connect and recharge the battery.

So what’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 charging leads for EV or PHEV? It’s pretty straightforward. The cable you buy to charge at home or carry with you to replenish the battery energy from public charging points will have a Type 1 or Type 2 plug on one end that fits with your EV or PHEV’s connection.

Differences between the two types of EV charging cables are:

In Europe, the Type 2 inlet is the standard for charging cables while the Type 1 inlet is the dominant variation in Asian, Japanese and American markets.

Type 1 plug is a 5-pin design and has a latch that keeps the plug in place and prevents it from being dislodged from the charger socket, while the Type 2 models, with 7-pin design don’t have these latches. Instead, the vehicles that utilise Type 2 plugs have a locking pin that locates and secures the plug in place.

It’s a very secure system, and only the EV or PHEV owner would be able to unplug the charging cable from the vehicle connector. Models that support Type 1 plug would not have a lock pin and so the charging cable can be unlocked by anyone.

EV and PHEV cables

Both Type 1 and Type 2 plugs have pins to transmit the power load and an earthing mechanism for safety.

In addition, Type 2 cables have resistors that communicate with the EV or PHEV, to ensure that the charging process runs smoothly. The vehicle ‘knows’ that it is plugged in, and other resistor functions maintain a uniform supply of power, detecting the strength of the cable to draw power accordingly. The resistors in the Type 1 cable detect whether the cable is plugged in will turn off the charger when the lever is pressed to unlatch the plug.

Also, Type 1 is a single-phase charging cable and Type 2 charging cables are available in single or three phase.

EVs and hybrids currently on the market are fitted with these two different types of charging sockets and many of the newer vehicles coming to market, even from the Asian market, are now being supplied with Type 2 connectors.

Type 1 charging cable

These vehicles use Type 1 as standard:

Citroen C-Zero, Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Kia Soul EV, Nissan Leaf 2012 – 2017, Peugeot (uses both types), Toyota Prius, Vauxhall.

Type 2 charging cable

Type 2 charging cables can be used with these cars:

Audi Etron, BMW i3, Hyundai, Jaguar, KIA, Ranger Rover, Renault, Mercedes Benz EQC, Mini Countryman, Nissan Leaf 2018, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo XC T8.

Type 2 charging cables are ideal for high-capacity EVs. And it’s wise to select a longer charging cable for EVs with charging sockets on one side of their body so that they’ll easily reach the charging point.

As a professional electric vehicle charging equipment manufacturer, AG Electrical can provide you with different electric vehicle chargers such as Type 1、Type 2 、GB/T、CCS2、CHADEMO and so on.

Also, we provide OEM/ODM service with the completely supply chain from concept design to MP(Mass Production).

As experienced team, we are capable of design and manufacture Industrial products with strict quality control system.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you need to.

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