Type 1 vs Type 2 vs GB/T vs NACS: EV Connectors Explained

If you have ever ordered the wrong charging cable, you already know why this matters. EV connectors are regional, they are not interchangeable without the right adapter, and the names get used loosely. Here is the map.

The four connector families

• Type 2 (IEC 62196, “Mennekes”) — Europe’s standard, used for both the vehicle inlet and the charging point, and able to carry single- and three-phase power.
• Type 1 (SAE J1772) — North America and Japan; single-phase only.
• GB/T — China’s national standard, with separate AC and DC designs.
• NACS — originally Tesla’s connector, now formally standardised as SAE J3400 and adopted by most North American automakers. The same compact connector is used for AC and DC charging.

Where the standards are heading

NACS has moved from a proprietary connector to an SAE standard (SAE J3400 was published as a Technical Information Report in December 2023, followed by a Recommended Practice in 2024), and North American vehicles are converging on it. In China and Japan, ChaoJi is being developed as a next-generation high-power DC connector; deployment is still limited, and it does not replace GB/T for AC charging today. For a project with a ten-year horizon, confirm the connector standard with the vehicles you expect to serve, not only with today’s install base.

Which ones do we ship most? GB/T and Type 2 are our two highest-volume connector types, with most of that going to Europe and the Middle East.

The Type 2 to Type 2 cable

The Type 2-Type 2 cable is the everyday mode-3 cable that connects an EV to a public or private Type 2 charging point. Our version:

• Standard: IEC 62196-2
• Rated voltage: 250 V / 480 V AC
• Rated current: 16 A and 32 A versions
• Phase: both single-phase and three-phase supported
• Protection: IP67 (mated)
• Flame retardancy: UL94-V0
• Mechanical life: 10,000 plugging cycles; insertion and extraction force under 100 N
• Dielectric strength: 2,500 V AC for 1 minute; insulation resistance 1,000 MΩ
• Ambient temperature: −40 °C to +85 °C
• Certification: TÜV certification; CE and RoHS compliant
• Cable length: customisable to your requirement

On networked installations the charging current can be managed through OCPP, so a 32 A cable is not limited to a fixed draw.

Single-phase vs three-phase

Both are supported. A single-phase 230 V supply delivers less power than three-phase 400 V, but the cable handles either — the difference is at the charging point and the vehicle’s on-board charger, not in the cable itself.

Choosing the right connector

The connector has to match both the charging point and the vehicle inlet. Running a Type 1 car at a Type 2 point needs the right cable or adapter, and GB/T is not compatible with European or North American equipment without conversion. If you are kitting out a fleet or a site, match the connector to the region first, then to the power level.

Sourcing

Type 2 to Type 2 cables are a crowded-looking category, but the list of suppliers that both hold the certifications and build to spec is shorter than it appears — which is why the detail above matters. We manufacture these in-house and can supply certification documents on request. If your market needs a connector we do not list here, tell us — OEM and custom housing are part of our manufacturing scope.

Next step: see the Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable and the pole-integrated AC charger, or contact us with your target market and quantity.

Shenzhen Holeetech Co., Ltd.