What does CCS2 (CCS Combo 2) mean?

Explanation

CCS2, also called CCS Combo 2, is the standard fast charging connector in Europe. It takes the familiar Type 2 AC connector shape and adds two large DC pins at the bottom. This means a CCS2 socket on your car can accept both a Type 2 AC cable for slow charging and a CCS2 DC cable for fast charging.

Every new EV sold in Europe since around 2018 uses CCS2 for DC fast charging. When you pull up to a DC fast charger in Europe, the thick cable with the large, heavy connector is the CCS2 plug. It clicks into your car's charge port and locks in place during the session. To remove it, you usually need to stop the session from the charger screen or app first.

CCS2 supports charging speeds from 50 kW up to 350 kW, depending on the charger and your car's capabilities. The connector is the same regardless of speed. If you are driving in Europe, CCS2 is the only DC connector you need to worry about for any car made in the last several years.

Read more at CharIN e.V.

Where you'll see this

• On the charger screen
• In charging network apps
• In vehicle specifications

Common confusion

People sometimes think CCS2 and Type 2 are completely different. CCS2 actually includes the Type 2 shape plus DC pins. Your car's CCS2 port accepts both CCS2 (DC) and Type 2 (AC) cables.

Example

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