CCS and type 2 plugs in comparison – Guide to electric car charging plugs

CCS and type 2 plugs in comparison - the guide to electric car charging plugs

Anyone getting into electromobility will soon be faced with the question: Which plug fits which vehicle – and which charging solution?
Two standards have become established in Europe: the type 2 plug for alternating current (AC) and the Combined Charging System (CCS) for direct current (DC).
Both systems play a central role in the charging infrastructure – but they differ significantly in terms of functionality, performance and area of application.

Type 2 – the AC standard for everyday life and at home

The type 2 plug, also known as the Mennekes plug, is the standard for AC charging in Europe. It enables charging capacities of up to 22 kW at private wallboxes and up to 43 kW at public AC charging points. Thanks to its high compatibility, the type 2 plug can be found on almost all European electric cars. It is particularly suitable for charging at home, semi-public areas such as company parking lots and destination charging at hotels, shopping centers or office locations.

AC charging can be intelligently controlled, billed and monitored via the reev platform – ideal for companies that offer their employees or customers charging points.

CCS – the fast-charging standard for high performance

The Combined Charging System (CCS), also known as “Combo 2”, combines the type 2 plug with two additional direct current contacts.
This means that both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) can be charged via the same connection.

CCS is the standard for fast charging, with charging capacities of up to 350 kW. In practice, 50-250 kW is often achieved – enough to charge modern electric vehicles in less than 30 minutes. Thanks to its uniform design, CCS is compatible throughout Europe and is regarded as a future-proof standard for long-haul and commercial fleets.

What does this mean for operators and companies?

For companies, fleet operators or property owners, it is crucial to offer charging points that support both plug types. This ensures that both AC charging (slow, low-cost charging overnight) and DC fast charging are possible.

The reev Software ensures that both variants are managed and billed efficiently – with automatic user management, dynamic load management and transparent reporting via the central reev Platform.

With the reev Energy Management System intelligently distributes the available energy so that several charging points are optimally supplied without overloading the grid.

Future-proof through compatibility

While the type 2 plug is the standard for everyday charging, CCS is increasingly gaining ground as a fast-charging format.
For operators and companies, this means that anyone planning charging infrastructure should pay attention to compatibility, scalability and simple billing. With reev, both charging types can be seamlessly integrated into a central platform – for maximum flexibility, efficiency and future-proofing.

Future-proof charging - with the right software solution from reev.

Whether AC or DC: With reev, you can control, monitor and bill your charging points easily and efficiently.