CCS, Type 2, and CHAdeMO — Charging Connector Types Explained

When you stand in front of a charging station for the first time, the number of connectors and cables can be confusing. CCS, Type 2, CHAdeMO — what does it all mean, and which one do you need? Here's an overview of the charging connectors used in Norway in 2026.

The Three Connector Types in Norway

Today you'll find three types of charging connectors at Norwegian charging stations:

1. Type 2 — for AC charging (standard charging)
2. CCS Combo 2 — for DC charging (fast charging)
3. CHAdeMO — for DC charging (legacy standard, being phased out)

Let's look at each of them.

Type 2 — The Standard for AC Charging

Type 2 (also called Mennekes) is the European standard for AC charging. This round connector with 7 pins is used for:

• Home charging with a wallbox (3.6–22 kW)
• Public AC charging points (typically 11–22 kW)
• Destination charging (hotels, shopping centres, parking garages)

All EVs sold in Europe have a Type 2 inlet. You need a Type 2 cable to connect the car to the wallbox. Most EVs come with such a cable, and home wallboxes have either a fixed cable or a Type 2 socket.

Technical Details for Type 2

CCS Combo 2 — The Standard for Fast Charging

CCS stands for Combined Charging System. CCS Combo 2 builds on the Type 2 connector and adds two extra DC contact pins at the bottom. This means the car only needs one charging port for both AC and DC.

CCS Combo 2 is the dominant fast-charging standard in Europe and Norway. All new EVs from European, Korean, American, and most Chinese manufacturers use CCS.

Who uses CCS?

• Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Skoda, Porsche, Cupra)
• Hyundai and Kia
• BMW and Mercedes
• Tesla (all European models)
• Volvo and Polestar
• Ford, Stellantis, Renault
• Chinese brands (BYD, NIO, Xpeng, MG, and others)

All nine major charging operators in Norway — Recharge, Mer, Eviny, Circle K, Ionity, E.ON, Kople, Uno-X, and Tesla — offer CCS charging points.

Technical Details for CCS Combo 2

CHAdeMO — The Japanese Standard (Being Phased Out)

CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve) was the first DC fast-charging standard and was developed by Japanese car manufacturers. The connector is large and round, with a separate charging port from Type 2.

Who uses CHAdeMO?

• Nissan Leaf (all generations)
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (older models)
• Some older Peugeot, Citroen, and Toyota models

Technical Details for CHAdeMO

In practice, CHAdeMO chargers in Norway rarely deliver more than 50 kW, as the cars that use the standard have limited charging capacity.

Which Connector Do You Need?

The answer is almost always: Type 2 + CCS Combo 2.

If you have an EV bought in Europe after 2020, it almost certainly has Type 2 for AC and CCS for DC in one combined charging port. You don't need to think about connector types — it just works.

The exception is older Nissan Leaf and some Mitsubishi models that use CHAdeMO. These have two separate charging ports: Type 2 for AC and CHAdeMO for DC.

What About Tesla?

Tesla has used its own proprietary connector (Tesla Connector / NACS) in North America, but all Tesla cars sold in Europe use CCS Combo 2 and Type 2. You can charge a European Tesla at any CCS charging station.

The Tesla Supercharger network in Norway is also open to other brands. All Supercharger V3 and V4 stations in Norway have CCS connectors.

The Future: NACS and MCS

Two new standards are under development:

• NACS (North American Charging Standard): Tesla's connector is becoming the standard in North America. In Europe, CCS remains the prevailing standard.
• MCS (Megawatt Charging System): Under development for trucks and buses, with up to 3.75 MW power. Not relevant for passenger cars.

For Norwegian EV owners, this means: CCS Combo 2 is and will remain the standard for the foreseeable future. Invest confidently in a Type 2 wallbox at home and use CCS fast chargers on the road.

Charging Connector Comparison

Compare charging prices→ to find the cheapest fast charger for your car — regardless of connector type.