Type 2 (Mennekes)

Type 2, often called Mennekes after the original manufacturer, is the plug prescribed in Europe for charging with alternating current (AC). You find it at almost every public charge point and wallbox, and it also forms the upper half of a CCS fast-charge plug. The seven-pin connection supports both single-phase and three-phase charging.

The achievable AC power depends on the weakest link in the chain: the car’s onboard charger, the home connection (single or three phase) and the capacity of the post. Many cars charge via Type 2 at 7.4 or 11 kW, some at 22 kW; a car with an 11 kW onboard charger does not charge faster at a 22 kW post. With AC charging the Type 2 cable, with a plug at both ends, is usually your own cable, unlike a DC fast charger with a fixed cable.

On the spec sheets we name Type 2 as the AC charging connection and state the maximum AC charging power separately. It is a factual characteristic; which cable and which mains connection you have at home also determine how fast charging goes in practice.