In India, most new electric cars use two connectors: Type 2 for AC charging (at home, offices and destinations) and CCS2 for DC fast charging at public stations. Older standards — Bharat AC-001 and Bharat DC-001 — are still found at some chargers, and two- and three-wheelers use their own lighter connectors. EV chargers themselves fall into two groups: AC chargers (roughly 3.3–22 kW), where the car’s on-board charger converts power, and DC fast chargers (roughly 25–360 kW), which feed the battery directly.
Last updated: September 2026.
EV Charging Connectors Used in India
| Connector | Type | Typical power | Where you will see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) | AC | Up to about 7.4 kW single-phase, 22 kW three-phase | Home and workplace wallboxes, destination chargers; the AC socket on almost all new cars |
| CCS2 (Combined Charging System 2) | DC | 25 kW to 350 kW+ | Public fast chargers and highway hubs; the DC standard for new electric cars in India |
| Bharat AC-001 | AC | 3.3 kW per socket | Older public chargers, mainly for two- and three-wheelers and early EVs |
| Bharat DC-001 | DC | Around 15 kW | Older low-voltage fast chargers for early electric cars |
| CHAdeMO | DC | Up to about 50 kW (in India) | Rare in India today; used by some older imported EVs |
| Light-EV connectors | AC/DC | Low to mid power | Electric scooters, bikes and three-wheelers; several brands use their own sockets, and India has adopted a combined light-EV charging standard |
Connectors you may read about but rarely meet in India include Type 1 (J1772), used mainly in North America and Japan, and GB/T, the Chinese standard.
Type 2 and CCS2 Explained
A CCS2 inlet on a car is essentially a Type 2 socket with two large DC pins added underneath. That is why most Indian electric cars have a single charging port: plug a Type 2 cable into the top part for AC charging, or a CCS2 gun into the full socket for DC fast charging.
- Type 2 (AC): seven pins, supports single- and three-phase power. The car’s on-board charger decides how fast it can charge on AC — typically 7.2 kW or 11 kW on Indian cars.
- CCS2 (DC): the charger delivers DC power straight to the battery, bypassing the on-board charger. Charging speed depends on both the charger’s output and the maximum DC power the car accepts.
Read more about how the on-board charger limits AC charging in what is an on-board charger.
Types of EV Chargers by Power
| Charger type | Power | Typical use | Time to charge a mid-size car battery* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable / slow AC | 2–3.3 kW | Emergency or occasional charging from a socket | 12–20+ hours |
| AC wallbox | 7.2–7.4 kW (single-phase), 11–22 kW (three-phase) | Homes, offices, hotels, malls | 6–9 hours at 7 kW |
| DC fast charger | 25–60 kW | City public stations, fleet depots | About 45 minutes to 1.5 hours (10–80%) |
| High-power DC charger | 100–360 kW | Highway hubs, premium sites | About 20–40 minutes (10–80%), if the car supports it |
*Indicative for a 40–50 kWh battery; actual times depend on the car.
You may also see chargers described as Level 1, 2 and 3. These are North American terms: Level 1 is a household socket, Level 2 is an AC wallbox, and “Level 3” usually means DC fast charging. See our comparison of AC vs DC EV chargers.
Types of EV Charging Stations
- Home charging — an AC wallbox in your parking; the cheapest and most convenient way to charge. See EV charging for homes and apartments.
- Workplace and destination charging — AC or small DC chargers at offices, hotels, restaurants and malls, where cars are parked for hours.
- Public fast-charging stations — DC chargers in cities and at fuel stations for quick top-ups.
- Highway charging hubs — high-power DC chargers along intercity routes, such as EarthtronEV’s Murthal highway station.
- Fleet and depot charging — charging for e-buses, cabs and delivery vehicles; see fleet charging.
How to Check Which Connector You Need
- Look at your car’s charging port: a round Type 2 upper section with two large pins below means CCS2.
- Check your owner’s manual for the maximum AC (kW) and DC (kW) charging power.
- In a charging app, filter chargers by connector (CCS2 or Type 2) and power before you drive there.
All EarthtronEV DC fast chargers use CCS2 connectors — see our charging locations. If you are setting up chargers for a business, our EV charging station equipment guide explains what a commercial site needs.
Related Reading
- AC vs DC EV Chargers: Which One Is Best for Your EV Charging Station?
- What Is an On-Board Charger (OBC) in an Electric Vehicle?
- How Much Power Is Required for EV Charging? kWh, kW and Home Load
- How to Find EV Charging Stations Near You in India
Learn more about public EV charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EV charging connector is used in India?
For electric cars, Type 2 for AC charging and CCS2 for DC fast charging. Older chargers may have Bharat AC-001 or Bharat DC-001 sockets, and two- and three-wheelers often use their own connectors.
What is the difference between CCS2 and Type 2?
Type 2 is an AC connector used for slower charging through the car’s on-board charger. CCS2 adds two DC pins to the Type 2 design for DC fast charging, delivering power directly to the battery.
Is CHAdeMO used in India?
Rarely. It appeared on some early imported EVs, but new electric cars sold in India use CCS2 for DC fast charging.
What is Bharat AC-001?
An early Indian AC charging standard with three 3.3 kW sockets per charger, mainly used for two-wheelers, three-wheelers and early electric cars. New cars charge on Type 2 AC chargers instead.
Can I charge my EV from a normal household socket?
Many EVs come with a portable charger that works from a suitable household socket, but it is slow. For daily use, a dedicated AC wallbox installed by an electrician is safer and much faster.