If you drive an electric vehicle in Europe, Australia, or much of Asia, the CCS2 connector is your primary DC fast charging interface. It's the standard that powers everything from 50 kW roadside chargers to 350 kW ultra-rapid stations — and it's now the mandated standard in the EU for all new public charging infrastructure.
This guide explains what CCS2 is, how it differs from CCS1, its technical specifications, and what you need to know as an EV owner, installer, or equipment manufacturer.
What Is CCS2?
CCS2 stands for Combined Charging System Type 2. It combines:
- Type 2 (Mennekes) AC inlet — the standard 7-pin AC connector used across Europe
- Two additional DC pins — added below the Type 2 pins for high-power DC fast charging
The result is a single connector that handles both AC charging (up to 22 kW three-phase) and DC fast charging (up to 350 kW+) through the same vehicle inlet. You don't need separate AC and DC ports.
CCS2 is standardized under IEC 62196-3 (connector) and IEC 61851-23 (charging communication).
CCS2 vs CCS1: What's the Difference?
| Feature | CCS1 | CCS2 |
|---|---|---|
| AC base | SAE J1772 (Type 1) | IEC 62196-2 (Type 2) |
| AC pins | 5 (single-phase) | 7 (three-phase capable) |
| DC pins | 2 (below J1772) | 2 (below Type 2) |
| Max AC power | 19.2 kW (single-phase) | 43 kW (three-phase) |
| Max DC power | 350 kW+ | 350 kW+ |
| Primary markets | USA, Canada, South Korea | Europe, Australia, China (GB/T variant) |
| Intermateable | No | No |
CCS1 and CCS2 are not intermateable — a CCS1 vehicle cannot use a CCS2 charger without an adapter, and vice versa. However, both use the same DIN 70121 / ISO 15118 communication protocol (PLC over the pilot line).
CCS2 Pin Configuration
The CCS2 connector has 9 pins total:
Type 2 AC section (top 7 pins):
- L1, L2, L3 — three AC phases
- N — neutral
- PE — protective earth
- CP — control pilot (PWM signaling)
- PP — proximity pilot (cable rating detection)
DC extension (bottom 2 pins):
- DC+ — positive DC power
- DC− — negative DC power
During DC fast charging, only the DC pins and CP/PE are active. The AC pins are not used.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| AC voltage | Up to 480 V (three-phase) |
| AC current | Up to 63 A per phase |
| Max AC power | 43.5 kW (three-phase) |
| DC voltage | Up to 1,000 V |
| DC current | Up to 500 A |
| Max DC power | 350 kW (current gen), 1 MW+ (future) |
| Communication | DIN 70121 (DC), ISO 15118 (smart charging) |
| Connector standard | IEC 62196-3 |
| IP rating | IP44 (mated), IP55 (unmated with cap) |
| Mating cycles | ≥10,000 |
| Operating temperature | −30°C to +50°C |
Charging Levels with CCS2
AC Charging (Mode 3)
- Single-phase 7.4 kW: 230 V × 32 A — standard home/workplace charging
- Three-phase 11 kW: 400 V × 16 A — common in Europe
- Three-phase 22 kW: 400 V × 32 A — fast AC charging at public stations
- Three-phase 43 kW: 400 V × 63 A — rare, requires onboard charger support
DC Fast Charging (Mode 4)
- 50 kW: Common at older public stations
- 100–150 kW: Mid-range fast chargers
- 150–350 kW: High-power chargers (HPC) — charges most EVs in 15–30 min
- 350 kW+: Ultra-rapid stations (requires liquid-cooled cable)
Liquid-Cooled CCS2 Cables
At 150 kW+, the DC current (300–500 A) generates significant heat in the cable. Standard air-cooled cables become heavy and stiff at these ratings. Liquid-cooled cables solve this:
- Coolant circulates through the cable jacket
- Allows thinner, more flexible cables at high current
- Required for 350 kW stations
- Cable diameter: ~20–25 mm (vs 35–50 mm for air-cooled equivalent)
Liquid-cooled CCS2 cables are used by Ionity, Tesla Supercharger V3 (with CCS2 adapter), and most 350 kW HPC networks.
ISO 15118: Smart Charging & Plug & Charge
CCS2 supports ISO 15118, the vehicle-to-grid communication standard that enables:
- Plug & Charge (PnC): Automatic authentication and billing — no app or RFID card needed
- Smart charging: Dynamic load management, time-of-use pricing
- V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid): Bidirectional power flow (vehicle exports power to grid)
- V2H (Vehicle-to-Home): Power your home from the vehicle battery
ISO 15118-20 (2022) extends this to bidirectional DC charging, enabling V2G with CCS2.
CCS2 Adoption by Region
| Region | Status |
|---|---|
| European Union | Mandated for all new public chargers (EU regulation 2023/1804) |
| United Kingdom | Dominant standard, CCS2 required for rapid chargers |
| Australia | CCS2 adopted as national standard (NRMA, Chargefox, Evie networks) |
| China | GB/T standard (similar concept, different connector) |
| Japan | CHAdeMO dominant, CCS2 growing |
| USA/Canada | CCS1 dominant, NACS (Tesla) growing |
The EU mandate means every new public fast charger in Europe must have at least one CCS2 outlet. This has accelerated CCS2 infrastructure rollout significantly since 2023.
CCS2 Compatibility: Which EVs Use It?
Most European and Australian EVs use CCS2 as their DC fast charging port:
- Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, SEAT)
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz
- Hyundai, Kia (European models)
- Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Fiat)
- Renault, Nissan (European models)
- Tesla (European models use CCS2 natively since 2019)
- BYD, NIO, Xpeng (European market versions)
Notable exception: Nissan Leaf (older models) uses CHAdeMO for DC charging.
CCS2 Adapters
CCS1 to CCS2
No commercially available adapter exists for CCS1 → CCS2 (or vice versa) due to the different AC base connectors and communication complexity. Regional market separation makes this largely unnecessary.
CHAdeMO to CCS2
Nissan and other CHAdeMO vehicles can use a CHAdeMO-to-CCS2 adapter. These exist but are expensive (~$500+) and limit charging speed.
Tesla to CCS2
Tesla vehicles in Europe use CCS2 natively. In Australia, Tesla provides a CCS2 adapter for Supercharger V2 stations (which use a proprietary connector in AU).
Summary
CCS2 is the dominant DC fast charging standard for Europe and Australia, combining Type 2 AC charging with high-power DC in a single connector. Key points:
- Supports up to 350 kW DC and 43 kW AC in one connector
- Mandated for all new EU public chargers since 2023
- Uses ISO 15118 for smart charging and Plug & Charge
- Not intermateable with CCS1 (North America) or CHAdeMO
- Liquid-cooled cables required for 150 kW+ installations
CZT supplies EV charging connectors and components for CCS, Type 2, and other charging standards. Browse our EV charging connector range for compatible products.
