Connector types explained: Type 2, CCS and MCS
You don't choose the plug — the vehicle does. Type 2 for AC, CCS for DC, MCS emerging for the biggest trucks.
Last updated 15 August 2026
Connectors sound like a technical rabbit hole, but for a depot the practical position is simple: you mostly follow the vehicle, and a couple of standards cover almost everything.
Type 2 — the AC standard
Type 2 is the standard plug for AC charging in the UK and Europe. Almost every electric van, car and many larger vehicles use it for the slower, overnight charging that suits depots. If you’re specifying AC chargers, Type 2 is what you need.
CCS — the DC standard
CCS (Combined Charging System) is the standard for DC rapid charging. It cleverly combines the Type 2 socket with two extra DC pins, so one port covers both. Virtually all modern electric vans, trucks and buses that rapid-charge in the UK use CCS, making it the safe default for any DC chargers you install.
MCS — for the heaviest trucks
MCS (Megawatt Charging System) is a newer standard being introduced for the largest electric HGVs that need enormous power very quickly — far beyond what CCS delivers. For most depots today it’s a future consideration rather than a purchase; the first megawatt hubs are only now opening. Long-haul freight operators should keep it on the radar.
The practical rule
You don’t really choose the connector — the vehicle dictates it, and in practice that means Type 2 for AC and CCS for DC across almost the whole UK fleet. Just make sure your chargers offer the connector your vehicles use, and match the power to what the vehicle can accept. Beyond that, connectors rarely cause trouble.