In the fascinating world of charging stations and electric cars, two terms that often come up are type 1 and type 2 charging cables and plugs. But what makes them different?

A decision has been taken at the European level that charging points and cars will soon be equipped exclusively with a type 2 socket, also known as the  Mennekes-plug. Despite this standard, there are still cars on the market with a Type 1 connector, also known as the J1772 plug.

The choice between type 1 and type 2 often depends on the car manufacturer. Generally, Japanese and US brands work with type 1 (e.g. Nissan, Mitsubishi, Kia, Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford), while European brands prefer type 2 (e.g. Audi, Renault, BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Porsche, Volvo). Tesla also uses type 2.

As type 2 becomes the standard, charging stations with a socket are usually equipped with a type 2 connector. Drivers with a type 1 car often carry an adapter plug that allows them to use type 2 charging points as well.

And let's not forget the variant, Type 3c, which is still common in France. For fast charging, there are also other standards, such as CHAdeMO, CCS and the Tesla standard.