EV connector planning guide

Match the connector to the vehicles and destination market.

There is no single plug for every project. First separate AC from DC, then check the vehicle inlet, destination rules, existing fleet and number of ports that must work at the same time.

Build my connector plan
Vehicle connector planning Commercial DC charging dispenser with project-selected vehicle connectors
First split AC or DC

A market may use different connector families for each charging job.

Then match Vehicle inlet

The charger cable must fit the vehicles the site will actually serve.

Order by Working ports

A cabinet, port and connector are not the same quantity.

01 — The quick answer

Choose by market, vehicle and charging type—not by plug popularity.

Europe commonly plans around Type 2 AC and CCS2 DC; North America is a mixed transition market; China uses GB/T families; CHAdeMO remains relevant where the compatible vehicle base requires it. Every order still needs a project-specific vehicle and local-compliance check.

Confirm these three details before choosing a connector
  1. 01

    Which vehicle inlets must the site serve on opening day?

  2. 02

    Which AC and DC connector families fit the destination market?

  3. 03

    How many ports must charge simultaneously, and how is power shared?

02 — Five buyer decisions

Lock the vehicle-side match before releasing equipment.

These checks prevent the common mistake of ordering the right charger power with the wrong cable or port layout.

  1. 01

    List the destination market

    Record the country, city and whether the site is public, private, hotel, fleet or mixed use.

  2. 02

    List actual vehicle inlets

    Use vehicle makes, model years and inlet photos when the fleet is mixed or the market is changing.

  3. 03

    Separate AC from DC

    Choose the longer-stay AC connection and the rapid DC connection as two different decisions.

  4. 04

    Count simultaneous ports

    Confirm how many vehicles can charge at once—not just how many cables are attached to one cabinet.

  5. 05

    Confirm local compliance

    Check connector, electrical, accessibility, metering and certification requirements for the destination project.

03 — Connector words in buyer language

Keep the vehicle side and charger side clear.

Vehicle inlet

The opening built into the vehicle

This determines which charging connector can be inserted directly into that vehicle.

Vehicle connector

The plug at the end of the charger cable

The connector must match the inlet, charging type and project-standard requirements.

04 — Confirm the correct plug

Five details prevent the wrong connector from being ordered

Destination + vehicle inlets + AC/DC need + working ports + local requirements = the correct connector specification Example structure: Europe + Type 2/CCS2 vehicles + overnight AC and public DC + four working ports + project certification check

Do not use this example as a universal market rule. Existing vehicles, adapters, public-infrastructure requirements and transition plans must be checked for the real destination.

05 — Common connector starting points

Start with the market standard, then verify the actual vehicles.

Use the destination as a starting point, then confirm every vehicle that must charge on opening day.

Europe

Typical destination context
Public or commercial passenger-vehicle charging in an IEC-based market
Common planning pair
Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC are the common planning starting point.
Confirm before ordering
Current local rules, public-access scope, vehicle inlets and required certification.

North America

Typical destination context
A mixed vehicle base during the CCS1, J1772 and SAE J3400 transition
Common planning pair
Plan from the opening-day fleet; one project may need J1772, CCS1 or SAE J3400 variants.
Confirm before ordering
Vehicle model years, network strategy, adapter policy and destination requirements.

Mainland China

Typical destination context
Vehicles and infrastructure built for the GB/T charging system
Common planning pair
Use the applicable GB/T AC and DC families for the confirmed vehicle base.
Confirm before ordering
Current GB/T version, vehicle compatibility, power class and local certification.

Japan or legacy mixed fleet

Typical destination context
Existing vehicles include CHAdeMO-compatible DC inlets or Type 1 AC inlets
Common planning pair
Keep the required legacy connector only where the vehicle list and operating case support it.
Confirm before ordering
Actual fleet count, replacement timeline, adapter policy and new-vehicle mix.
06 — Connector families

See the AC and DC options as two separate rows.

Send the vehicle list and destination. The quotation will show the available connector, cable rating and certification options for that project.

AC

Longer-stay AC connector options

Used where the vehicle can remain parked while its onboard charger converts AC power.

Type 1 SAE J1772 AC charging connector face
J1772

Type 1

Typical planning market
North America / Japan
Information to send
Vehicle inlet, onboard AC limit and destination requirements.
Type 2 AC charging connector face
Mennekes

Type 2

Typical planning market
Europe / global
Information to send
Tethered or socket format, phases, current and local rules.
GB/T AC vehicle charging connector face
GB/T 20234

GB/T AC

Typical planning market
China
Information to send
Applicable GB/T version, vehicle inlet and power rating.
SAE J3400 NACS AC charging connector face
SAE J3400

NACS AC

Typical planning market
North America
Information to send
Vehicle model year, AC configuration and project certification.
DC

Rapid DC connector options

Used where the charger supplies controlled DC power directly to a compatible vehicle inlet.

CCS1 DC fast charging connector face
Combo 1

CCS1

Typical planning market
North America
Information to send
Opening-day vehicles, future fleet plan and simultaneous ports.
CCS2 DC fast charging connector face
Combo 2

CCS2

Typical planning market
Europe / global
Information to send
Vehicle inlet, public-access requirements, cable rating and certification.
CHAdeMO DC fast charging connector face
CHAdeMO

CHAdeMO

Typical planning market
Japan / legacy fleets
Information to send
Actual vehicle demand, protocol version and replacement horizon.
GB/T DC fast charging connector face
GB/T 20234

GB/T DC

Typical planning market
China
Information to send
Applicable standard version, communication, power class and vehicle inlet.
SAE J3400 NACS DC charging connector face
SAE J3400

NACS DC

Typical planning market
North America
Information to send
Vehicle and network plan, adapter policy, cable rating and certification.
07 — What the quotation must separate

Four counts prevent connector mistakes.

Separate vehicles, working ports, cables and shared power so the supplied configuration matches how the site will operate.

Vehicle

Compatible inlet list

Make + model year + AC/DC inlet Specified in your quotation
Why included

Shows which vehicle families each supplied connector must serve instead of relying on a country label alone.

Type 2 connector used to represent a verified vehicle inlet list
Port

Simultaneously working ports

Vehicles charging at the same time Specified in your quotation
Why included

Separates real service capacity from the number of cables or cabinet doors.

Dual-cable commercial DC charging dispenser
Cable

Connector and cable variant

Standard + current + length + cooling Specified in your quotation
Why included

Defines the physical interface and handling needs for the selected power and parking layout.

CCS2 connector used to represent a project cable variant
Cabinet

Shared power and control

Cabinet output + port allocation Site power protection option
Why included

Explains how several connectors share power and whether they can operate at the same time.

EV charging power cabinet coordinating several charging ports
08 — Details for your quote

Send the vehicle details behind the plug choice.

You do not need every item to start. More site data gives you a more accurate equipment and scope quotation.

  • Destination country, city and public/private use
  • Vehicle makes, models and model years
  • Clear photos of the vehicle inlets, if available
  • Number of vehicles by inlet type
  • Required AC charging job
  • Required DC charging job
  • Number of simultaneously working ports
  • Maximum vehicle AC and DC acceptance, if known
  • Cable length and handling requirements
  • Adapter policy for the site or fleet
  • Phase-one and future vehicle mix
  • Local certification and metering requirements
09 — Connector questions

Answers before you finalise the connector list.

01 Is there one universal EV charging connector?

No. Connector families vary by AC or DC use, destination market, vehicle inlet and installed fleet. A multi-market supplier should split the order by confirmed destination and vehicle need.

02 What is the difference between Type 2 and CCS2?

Type 2 is the AC interface family. CCS2 combines the Type 2 upper section with additional DC contacts for rapid DC charging.

03 Is SAE J3400 the same as NACS?

SAE J3400 standardizes the coupler commonly called NACS in North America and covers both AC single-phase and DC conductive charging requirements.

04 Should a North American project order only J3400 connectors?

Not automatically. Check the opening-day vehicle base, model years, network strategy, public requirements and adapter policy before deciding whether J1772, CCS1, J3400 or a combination is needed.

05 Does two connectors mean two vehicles can charge at once?

Not necessarily. Confirm the number of independently operating ports and how output is shared when more than one vehicle is connected.

06 Can adapters solve every compatibility problem?

No. Adapter support depends on the vehicle, charging system, communication, power, certification and site policy. Treat adapters as a project-specific compatibility decision.

Ready to turn the vehicle list into a connector brief?

Build a market-ready charging configuration in one minute.

Choose the destination, scenario, spaces and every vehicle connector the site must serve. The summary travels with your inquiry.

Build my connector plan
Build my connector plan
Sales contact Email Mark mark@evbbc.com WhatsApp Mark +86 182 3740 3679