EV Charger Types in India: CCS2, Type 2 & Connector Guide 2026

Electric vehicles cannot use every charging connector simply because the charger supplies electricity. The vehicle inlet, charger connector, communication system and supported charging method all need to be compatible before a charging session can begin.

Understanding EV charger types in India is therefore important for both EV drivers and businesses installing charging infrastructure. For most modern electric passenger cars, Type 2 has become the dominant AC interface and CCS2 the dominant DC fast-charging interface, while older and specialised vehicles may still use different systems.

India's charging ecosystem also includes legacy CHAdeMO and Bharat charging formats, as well as a more diverse light-electric-vehicle market where two- and three-wheeler charging remains less uniform.

If you are planning infrastructure rather than simply choosing a charger as a driver, first read the SpeedCharge EV Charger Installation Guide and EV Charging Station Setup Guide.

Quick Answer: Which EV Charging Connectors Are Used in India?

For modern passenger EV charging, the simplest practical distinction is:

• Type 2: primarily used for AC charging.

• CCS2: primarily used for DC fast charging and based around the Type 2 interface.

• CHAdeMO: legacy DC charging standard that can still appear on older vehicles and charging infrastructure.

• Bharat DC-001: lower-power DC format associated with earlier Indian EV charging deployments.

• Bharat AC-001: earlier low-power AC public-charging specification.

• Light EV charging systems: used across electric two- and three-wheelers, where the market remains more diverse.

For most drivers comparing EV charger types in India, the two names they are most likely to encounter on newer electric cars are Type 2 and CCS2.

BEE's current EV charging information still lists CCS, CHAdeMO, Type 2 AC, Bharat DC-001 and Bharat AC-001 within India's published charging-infrastructure specifications, which is why older standards should not simply be described as if they no longer exist anywhere.

EV Charging Connector Types at a Glance

The important distinction is that connector type and charger power are not the same thing. A connector establishes electrical and communication compatibility, while the actual charging speed depends on both the charging station and the vehicle.

AC Charging vs DC Fast Charging

Before comparing individual connectors, understand the two basic ways an EV battery receives energy.

AC Charging

With AC charging, electricity enters the vehicle as alternating current and the vehicle's onboard charger converts it into DC electricity for the battery.

This means the vehicle's onboard charger can limit charging speed even if the external AC charger is capable of supplying more power. For example, connecting a car with a lower onboard AC charging capability to a higher-rated AC charge point does not automatically make the vehicle charge at the station's maximum rating.

AC charging is commonly used at homes, offices, residential societies, hotels and other places where vehicles remain parked for longer periods.

DC Fast Charging

With DC charging, conversion happens inside the charging station rather than primarily through the vehicle's onboard AC charger. DC energy can then be delivered directly to the vehicle's battery-management and high-voltage charging system under controlled communication between vehicle and charger.

Because DC chargers can deliver much higher power, they are commonly used at public fast-charging locations, highways and other sites where shorter charging sessions are important.

For a broader comparison, see the SpeedCharge guide to setting up an EV charging station.

Type 2 EV Charger: India's Main AC Interface for Passenger Cars

Type 2 is an AC charging interface widely used across Europe and adopted extensively in India's passenger-EV ecosystem. It supports AC charging and can be implemented in charging systems designed for different power levels and electrical configurations.

The vehicle's onboard charger still determines how much AC power the car can actually accept. Installing a higher-rated Type 2 charger than the vehicle supports does not force additional power into the battery.

Where Type 2 Charging Is Common

Type 2 charging is well suited to locations where the vehicle remains parked for a meaningful period:

• Home charging

• Apartment and housing-society charging

• Workplace charging

• Hotels and resorts

• Shopping malls

• Commercial parking

• Destination charging

• Public AC charging

This makes Type 2 especially important for properties where charging speed is less important than convenient access over several hours.

Businesses planning property charging can review SpeedCharge commercial EV charging solutions.

Tethered vs Socketed Type 2 Chargers

Type 2 charging stations can be designed either with a cable permanently attached to the charger or with a socket that requires the driver to provide a compatible cable.

Tethered Type 2

A tethered charger is usually more convenient because the cable is always available. Drivers simply remove the connector from the charger and connect it to the vehicle.

The trade-off is that the attached cable experiences regular handling and eventually becomes another component the operator needs to maintain.

Socketed Type 2

A socketed charging point gives the operator a cleaner and potentially more flexible installation, but the driver must carry the appropriate Type 2 cable.

This can work well in controlled environments such as residential properties and workplaces where users know what equipment they need.

CCS2 Charger: The Main DC Fast-Charging Interface

CCS stands for Combined Charging System. CCS2 combines the Type 2 AC connection architecture with two larger DC contacts, allowing a compatible vehicle inlet to support both AC and DC charging functions.

This combined design is one of the reasons CCS2 has become the dominant fast-charging interface for newer electric passenger cars in India.

The important word is dominant, not universal. Older vehicles and specialised models can still use different systems, so infrastructure planning should always consider the actual target vehicle population.

Why CCS2 Became Important in India

India benefits from using an interface also widely adopted in other major automotive markets. Vehicle manufacturers can develop platforms around an established charging ecosystem rather than requiring a unique public fast-charging connector only for India.

For charging operators, greater connector convergence lowers infrastructure complexity. Instead of installing many different connector types at every new station, the operator can focus investment around the interfaces used by the largest share of target vehicles.

This standardisation improves the economics of public charging because charger investment is less exposed to the risk of serving only a small vehicle population.

Does CCS2 Mean Every Car Charges at the Same Speed?

No. A CCS2 connector does not tell you how quickly a particular vehicle will charge.

Actual DC charging power is affected by:

• Maximum vehicle charging capability

• Charger output capability

• Battery State of Charge

• Battery temperature

• Battery-management strategy

• Charging curve

• Thermal conditions

• Charger and vehicle communication

A vehicle capable of accepting substantially less power than the charger offers will generally charge only within the limits its own system allows.

This is why users should look at vehicle DC charging capability, not only whether the plug says CCS2.

CCS2 vs Type 2

The correct choice is therefore not really “CCS2 or Type 2” for the whole market. Many compatible electric cars use Type 2 for AC charging and CCS2 for DC fast charging.

CHAdeMO: Why You May Still See It

CHAdeMO is a DC fast-charging standard originally developed in Japan. It predates widespread CCS adoption and appears on some older electric vehicles and older multi-standard charging installations.

It uses a different connector architecture from CCS2. For that reason, a CCS2 vehicle cannot simply be plugged into a CHAdeMO connector.

BEE's currently published EV charging specifications still include CHAdeMO alongside CCS, so it is more accurate to describe the connector as legacy or declining in relevance for new passenger-EV deployments, rather than claiming it has disappeared from India entirely.

Bharat DC-001

Bharat DC-001 was developed for lower-power DC charging suited to an earlier generation of the Indian EV market. It appears in India's existing public-charging framework and can still be found in older installations.

As passenger-EV battery capacities and fast-charging requirements increased, newer passenger-car infrastructure increasingly moved toward higher-power CCS-based charging.

For a new charging business, Bharat DC-001 should therefore be selected because there is a known compatible user requirement, not simply because the connector exists in the older installed base.

Bharat AC-001

Bharat AC-001 was designed as a relatively low-cost approach to AC charging and appears in India's published charging-infrastructure specifications.

It remains part of the history and installed base of India's EV infrastructure, but newer passenger-EV charging deployments increasingly revolve around Type 2 and modern smart-charging systems.

Operators upgrading an existing site should first identify which vehicles currently use any Bharat charging equipment before removing or replacing it.

Current Indian EV Charging Standards

India's technical framework extends far beyond the name printed on a connector.

The Bureau of Indian Standards maintains the IS 17017 family covering EV conductive charging systems, including EVSE requirements, connectors, vehicle inlets and charging configurations. BIS also published a revised IS 17017 (Part 23):2026 for DC Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, based on IEC 61851-23:2023 with modifications for Indian conditions.

The 2026 revision includes requirements addressing electrical protection, cable assemblies, emergency disconnection, temperature-controlled energy transfer and other DC EVSE safety and performance considerations.

This is why businesses evaluating EV charger types in India should verify applicable BIS standards and not choose equipment only on connector shape, claimed kW rating or purchase price.

Two-Wheeler and Three-Wheeler EV Charging

India's electric two- and three-wheeler ecosystem is more diverse than the passenger-car charging market. Many vehicles use portable chargers or manufacturer-specific vehicle-side interfaces, while some platforms use removable batteries or proprietary fast-charging systems.

However, saying there are no standards at all would now be inaccurate. BIS has dedicated specifications such as IS 17017 Part 22 Section 1:2021 covering AC charge points for light electric vehicles.

The larger commercial challenge is practical interoperability across a highly fragmented vehicle market.

Should Businesses Install Ordinary Sockets for Electric Two-Wheelers?

A properly designed light-EV charging area can include charging solutions suitable for riders using manufacturer-supplied portable EVSE, but businesses should not treat any random household socket as automatically suitable for continuous EV charging.

Electrical protection, socket rating, wiring capacity, earthing, weather exposure, usage duration and the connected charging equipment all need to be considered.

For commercial installations, use equipment and electrical circuits designed and installed for the expected charging load.

Battery Swapping Avoids the Vehicle Charging Connector

Battery swapping follows a different architecture. Instead of connecting the vehicle to a charging station for the complete energy-replenishment session, a depleted removable battery is exchanged for a charged compatible battery.

This can reduce vehicle downtime for commercial two- and three-wheelers, but it moves the interoperability problem from the plug to the battery itself. Physical dimensions, electrical characteristics, communication and vehicle compatibility all become important.

For more detail, read the SpeedCharge Battery Swapping in India Guide.

Does the Charging Connector Determine Charging Speed?

Only partly.

A connector and its associated standard define a compatible interface and technical limits, but actual charging power depends on the complete system. The charger, EV, battery-management system and operating conditions all participate in determining the session power.

This explains why two cars connected one after another to the same DC fast charger can charge at very different rates.

Can You Use an Adapter Between Different EV Connectors?

Adapters should not be treated as a universal solution to incompatible EV charging standards.

AC adapters can exist for specific supported use cases, but owners should use only products and configurations approved for their vehicle and charging system. Incorrect equipment can introduce electrical, thermal or communication risks.

DC fast charging is significantly more complex because the interface includes high-power electrical connections and communication between charger and vehicle. Never assume that changing only the physical plug makes two DC systems interoperable.

Why a Charger With the Correct Plug Can Still Fail to Start

Physical connector compatibility is only the first step in a charging session. The vehicle and charger must also establish the required communication and safety conditions before high-voltage energy transfer begins.

Session failures can result from charger faults, communication problems, authentication, software issues, payment systems or compatibility problems.

For drivers, the practical response is to retry according to the operator's instructions, try another connector if available and contact network support if the problem persists.

Connector Standards vs OCPP: Don't Confuse Them

CCS2, Type 2 and other connector standards describe the physical/electrical interface used between vehicle and charging equipment.

OCPP is different. The Open Charge Point Protocol deals with communication between a charging station and a Charging Station Management System.

A charger can therefore use CCS2 on the vehicle side while using OCPP to communicate with its backend platform.

The Open Charge Alliance published OCPP 2.1 in 2025 and continues to maintain OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1 alongside the newer version.

For a full explanation, see the SpeedCharge OCPP vs OCPI Guide.

What Should You Specify When Installing an EV Charger?

Choosing among EV charger types in India should begin with the vehicles and use case rather than the charger catalogue.

For Public Passenger-Car DC Charging

CCS2 should normally be evaluated first because it is the dominant interface used by newer passenger EVs and modern public fast-charging networks.

However, if an existing property serves a known legacy fleet, review actual vehicle compatibility before removing older connector support.

For Commercial AC Charging

Type 2 is the natural starting point for modern passenger-car destination charging. Charger power should be selected according to dwell time, available electrical capacity and what target vehicles can accept through their onboard chargers.

For Home Charging

Use the vehicle manufacturer's supported charging solution and match the installation to the property's electrical capacity.

Read How to Charge an EV at Home in India before planning a residential setup.

For Fleets

Do not assume public passenger-car standards automatically match a commercial fleet. Map every vehicle model, connector, charging window, battery capacity and required daily energy before procuring infrastructure.

For Electric Two- and Three-Wheelers

Design around the actual fleet or target users. The market is more diverse, so a site serving known commercial vehicles can be planned much more accurately than an installation trying to guess every possible future light-EV connector.

EV Charger Installation Decision Table

Businesses should complete a site survey before purchasing hardware. The SpeedCharge EV Charging Site Selection Guide explains the location factors that should be validated first.

Why Standardisation Helps EV Drivers

Standardisation makes public charging predictable. A driver should not need to understand a different physical connector for every charging-network brand.

When vehicle manufacturers and charging operators converge around compatible standards, charging infrastructure becomes easier to use and easier to invest in.

The benefit is therefore not only technical. Standardisation improves charger utilisation, reduces infrastructure duplication and makes route planning more reliable.

Why Standardisation Helps Charging Operators

An operator installing five incompatible connectors at every station spends more capital and increases maintenance complexity. A more standardised vehicle population allows infrastructure to focus on the connectors customers actually need.

This reduces the risk that expensive charging hardware becomes underused because it was designed around a declining vehicle standard.

For businesses assessing EV charger types in India, market compatibility should therefore be reviewed alongside power rating, warranty, OCPP support, service capability and total installation cost.

What About ISO 15118 and Plug & Charge?

Connector compatibility is only one layer of EV charging interoperability. Newer charging systems can also use digital communication between the vehicle and charger for functions such as authentication, charging management and future vehicle-grid use cases.

The BIS EV Charging Infrastructure Compendium lists multiple parts of the IS/ISO 15118 series covering vehicle-to-grid communication interfaces, application protocols and conformance testing.

Features such as Plug & Charge require compatible vehicles, charging infrastructure and backend systems. Having a CCS2 connector alone does not guarantee that every ISO 15118 function is available.

Common EV Charging Connector Mistakes

Assuming Every EV Uses CCS2

CCS2 dominates newer passenger-car DC charging, but legacy vehicles and other vehicle categories can use different systems.

Confusing Type 2 With a Fixed Charging Speed

Type 2 describes the interface, not one universal kW rating.

Buying the Highest-Power Charger Without Checking the Car

A charger capable of very high output does not make a lower-capability vehicle accept that power.

Ignoring Two-Wheeler Users

Passenger cars are only one part of India's EV ecosystem. Sites with significant two- and three-wheeler traffic may need a different infrastructure strategy.

Selecting Legacy Connectors Without Demand Evidence

Older connectors should be installed because compatible users need them, not because they appeared in an old charging specification.

Confusing OCPP With the Charging Plug

OCPP concerns charger-to-backend communication; CCS2 and Type 2 concern the vehicle-charger interface.

Assuming Physical Compatibility Guarantees a Session

Communication, software, authentication and charger condition also affect whether charging successfully begins.

Future of EV Charging Connectors in India

As charging infrastructure matures, four-wheeler charging is likely to benefit from continued convergence around widely adopted AC and DC interfaces, while light-electric-vehicle charging still has greater room for interoperability improvement.

Indian standards are also continuing to evolve. BIS's IS 17017 Part 23:2026 revision for DC EVSE demonstrates that the technical framework is being updated alongside newer charging capabilities and safety requirements.

At the same time, software and vehicle-to-grid communication standards are becoming increasingly important. The future charging experience will depend not only on whether the plug fits, but also on whether vehicles, chargers and backend systems can communicate securely and reliably.

How SpeedCharge Fits Into the Charging Ecosystem

SpeedCharge develops EV charging solutions for public, commercial, residential and property charging use cases.

Drivers can use the SpeedCharge Station Finder to identify charging locations, while businesses planning infrastructure can explore SpeedCharge Partner Solutions and the EV Charger Installation Guide.

Investors evaluating charging infrastructure can also review the SpeedCharge EV Charging Station Franchise and additional technology guides on the SpeedCharge Blog.

Final Thoughts

Understanding EV charger types in India becomes much easier once charging method, physical connector and software protocol are separated.

For modern passenger EVs, Type 2 is the dominant AC interface while CCS2 dominates newer public DC fast-charging deployments. CHAdeMO and Bharat charging systems still matter when dealing with existing infrastructure and older vehicles, while India's electric two- and three-wheeler market remains more diverse.

Before buying a home charger or building a commercial charging site, verify the actual vehicle connector, supported AC/DC charging power, applicable Indian standards and the electrical infrastructure available at the property.