Short answer: If you drive a recent electric car in India, you need two things: a Type 2 cable for AC charging and a CCS2 connection at DC fast chargers. Older cars, imports and light EVs can differ, so check your inlet before you buy cables or an adapter.
AC and DC charging: why there are so many plugs
An EV battery stores direct current (DC). Slow, or AC, charging sends alternating current to a charger inside the car, which converts it. Fast, or DC, charging does that conversion in the station and feeds the battery directly, which allows far higher power. Different regions standardised on different plugs before the market matured, so you now see several shapes. The plug has to match your car’s inlet, and the charger has to speak the same digital language as the car.
The main EV charging plug types
Type 2 (IEC 62196-2, often called Mennekes)
The standard AC plug for India and Europe. It supports single-phase and three-phase charging, which suits home wallboxes and public AC points. Public AC power commonly ranges from about 3.3 kW to 22 kW, depending on the charger and what your car accepts.
CCS2 (Combined Charging System, Type 2 combo)
CCS2 adds two large DC pins beneath a Type 2 socket, so one inlet handles both AC and DC. It is the benchmark for passenger EV fast charging in India, with typical public stations delivering roughly 30 to 120 kW and newer high-power sites going higher. Tata, Mahindra, Hyundai, Kia, MG, BMW and Mercedes cars sold here use it.
CHAdeMO
A DC-only connector developed in Japan. It appears mostly on older imported or early models such as certain Nissan and Hyundai cars. Some Indian stations still carry a CHAdeMO gun, but new cars have moved to CCS2.
GB/T and Bharat DC-001
GB/T is China’s national standard. India’s first DC standard, Bharat DC-001, introduced under FAME in 2017, is based on it and was designed for lower-voltage vehicles at about 15 kW. Early fleet models such as the Mahindra e-Verito and Tata Tigor EV used it. You will mostly meet it on older cars and some commercial vehicles.
Bharat AC-001
A low-power AC specification built on IEC 60309 industrial sockets, meant for light vehicles. It is largely a legacy of India’s first charging standards and is not what current passenger cars use.
Type 6 (LEV DC) and Type 7
Defined under India’s IS 17017 series, Type 6 is a DC connector for light vehicles such as scooters and e-rickshaws, rated up to about 120 V and 3 to 12 kW. Type 7 (LECCS) is a related light-vehicle connector. Adoption is still growing, so many two-wheelers continue to use brand-specific chargers.
Type 1 (J1772) and NACS
Type 1 is a single-phase AC plug common in North America and Japan. Tesla’s own connector in the US is now being standardised as NACS (SAE J3400). Teslas sold in India use CCS2 instead, so you will rarely see either one on Indian roads.
Comparison table
| Plug | Current type | Typical use | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 | AC | Home and public AC, up to 22 kW | Nearly all new cars in India |
| CCS2 | AC + DC | Fast charging, tens to hundreds of kW | Highway and city fast chargers |
| CHAdeMO | DC | Legacy fast charging | Older imports, some stations |
| GB/T / Bharat DC-001 | DC | Around 15 kW, low-voltage vehicles | Older fleet cars, commercial EVs |
| Bharat AC-001 | AC | Low-power AC for light vehicles | Early Indian charging specs |
| Type 6 (LEV DC) | DC | 3 to 12 kW, up to 120 V | Scooters, e-rickshaws |
Find your plug in 10 seconds
Pick an option to see the likely connectors. The table above works without JavaScript.
What India uses today
Indian standards adopt Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC, and national guidelines also list CHAdeMO, GB/T and Bharat DC-001 for legacy support. In practice the market has converged on CCS2 for cars, while two- and three-wheelers are still moving toward common connectors. When you plan a trip, look at a charger’s listed connector before you drive to it, because a station can have several guns and only one may match your car.
Safe charging tips
- Check the inlet in your owner’s manual, not just the car’s model name, because market variants differ.
- Use a cable rated for the charger’s current and keep connectors dry and free of dust.
- Do not force a plug. If it does not seat easily, you probably have the wrong type.
- For home charging, have an electrician check wiring, earthing and an RCD-protected circuit. A 15A socket is fine for slow top-ups, but avoid extension reels.
- Adapters between different DC standards need manufacturer approval and software support.
Frequently asked questions
Which charging plug do most electric cars in India use?
Most new passenger EVs in India use a Type 2 inlet for AC charging, usually as the CCS2 combo inlet that also accepts DC fast charging.
Can I use a CCS2 cable on a CHAdeMO car?
No. The connectors are physically and electrically different. A CHAdeMO car needs a CHAdeMO charger, or an approved adapter if the manufacturer supports one.
Is Type 2 the same as CCS2?
Not quite. CCS2 is a Type 2 socket with two extra large DC pins below it, so a Type 2 AC cable fits the top half of a CCS2 inlet.
What plug do electric scooters and e-rickshaws use?
Many use manufacturer-specific connectors or a standard household-style socket with an onboard or portable charger. A newer Indian DC standard, Type 6 (LEV DC), targets light electric vehicles.
Sources and review notes
This guide was compiled from public documentation and industry explainers, then checked against the standards names they cite. Standards and station networks change, so confirm details with your vehicle manufacturer.