Type 2 Connector
The Type 2 connector is the seven-contact AC charging interface defined as a vehicle-connector configuration in the IEC 62196-2 family. It is widely used for EV charging in Europe and supports single-phase or three-phase AC, subject to the equipment and vehicle limits.
What Type 2 identifies
Type 2 primarily identifies a physical interface: its contact arrangement, dimensions, and mating requirements. It does not by itself specify the charging mode, available power, authentication method, payment service, or all communication used by a charging session.
The terms around the interface are easy to mix:
- The vehicle connector is the cable-end component inserted into the vehicle.
- The vehicle inlet is the matching component mounted on the vehicle.
- A socketed charging station can also use a Type 2 socket-outlet with a detachable cable.
- The complete connection includes more than the visible plug shape.
Actual AC charging power depends on the supply, phase count, Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), cable rating, and vehicle's onboard charger. A Type 2 inlet therefore does not imply one fixed charging speed. See AC Charging for those limits.
Combined Charging System (CCS) Combo 2 retains the Type 2 portion for AC and signalling and adds two larger DC contacts below it. Type 2 and CCS Combo 2 are consequently related interfaces, but they are not interchangeable names.
For the broader comparison of connectors, inlets, and regional systems, see EV Charging Connectors and Inlets.