Connector compatibility is separate from charger power. A 350 kW charger is only useful if the vehicle has the matching connector, supports the charging protocol and can accept the offered power.
Type 1 / SAE J1772
Common regions: North America and some legacy markets
Common for AC charging; DC fast charging uses a combined or different connector.
Type 2 / IEC 62196-2
Common regions: Europe, Australia and many other markets
Common AC inlet; forms the upper section of CCS2 for DC fast charging.
CCS1
Common regions: North America
Combines the Type 1/J1772 interface with two large DC contacts.
CCS2
Common regions: Europe, Australia and many global markets
Combines Type 2 with two large DC contacts; widely used for public DC fast charging.
SAE J3400 / NACS
Common regions: North America
A compact coupler that supports both AC and DC power transfer using the same primary contacts.
CHAdeMO
Common regions: Japan and legacy/global installations
A dedicated DC connector with a mature bidirectional charging ecosystem; availability varies strongly by market.
GB/T AC
Common regions: China
Chinese AC charging interface.
GB/T DC
Common regions: China
Chinese DC charging interface; separate from the GB/T AC connector.
ChaoJi
Common regions: China / Japan ecosystem and evolving deployments
A next-generation high-power DC interface developed through Chinese and CHAdeMO collaboration; deployment remains regional and evolving.
Megawatt Charging System (MCS)
Common regions: Heavy-duty vehicle corridors and depots
A CharIN-led connector system for high-power charging of electric trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, targeting power above 1 MW.
Tesla Type 2-shaped legacy DC
Common regions: Early Tesla installations in Europe and Australia
Some earlier Tesla vehicles and Superchargers used a Type 2-shaped inlet for proprietary DC charging. Do not assume ordinary Type 2 AC equipment provides the same DC capability.
AC charging versus DC fast charging
AC charging sends alternating current to the vehicle, where the onboard charger converts it for the battery. DC fast charging performs the conversion in the charging equipment and supplies direct current to the vehicle battery, enabling much higher charging power.
Charging “levels” are regional terminology
Terms such as Level 1, Level 2, Fast and Ultra Fast are not globally uniform. Compare the actual connector, current type, voltage, maximum charger output and your vehicle’s own charging limit.
Charger equipment types you will encounter
Mode 2 / portable EVSE
Portable equipment connects the vehicle to a suitable mains outlet through an in-cable control and protection device. Power is normally lower than a dedicated wallbox and installation suitability matters.
Wallbox / destination charger
Fixed AC EVSE at homes, workplaces, hotels and car parks. The vehicle’s onboard charger determines the maximum AC power it can actually accept.
DC fast charger
The charger converts grid AC to DC externally and supplies the traction battery directly. Typical public units range from modest DC power to several hundred kilowatts.
Ultra-fast / HPC
A commercial label for high-power DC charging. Actual vehicle power follows the battery’s charge curve and may be far below the charger’s headline rating.
Megawatt Charging System (MCS)
Designed primarily for electric trucks, buses and other high-energy applications where charging above 1 MW may be required.
ChaoJi and next-generation interfaces
High-power connector development continues, including the China–CHAdeMO ChaoJi work. Availability is regional and evolving.
Adapters require care
An adapter does not automatically make every charger safe or compatible. Use vehicle-manufacturer-approved or otherwise properly certified equipment and follow the vehicle and charging-network instructions.