Still struggling with the terminology... CCS/CHAdeMO/CCS? CCS2? I have a lot to learn about having an EV, not afraid to admit!
CHAdeMO is a Japanese developed DC quick charging standard and translates to “Stop for Tea” which is sort of a marketing idea developed in the days of the original Nissan Leaf where a CHAdeMO could recharge you car in about the time you could stop for a cup of tea.
Initially this was the first and only DC quick charging standard until Tesla came along with Superchargers In the USA that used a proprietary plug and socket unique to North America.
For slower AC charging there was the J1772 plug in the USA and Japan now referred to as Type 1 and the Mennekes plug in Europe, now referred to as the Type 2.
In Europe, the International Engineers Association (IEA) were developing their own DC quick charging standard that eventually settled with a plug and socket the shape of the Type 2 with two large DC ports below the Type 2 ports; this is correctly referred to as CCS2, which stands for Combined Charging System 2.
Back in the USA, they did not want to change all the AC J1772 chargers so a second Combined Charging System plug was approved with the J1772 pattern and the same two DC ports below. This is referred to as CCS1 and uses all the same protocol as CCS2 just a different plug pattern.
The socket on all Australian Model 3 are CCS2.
Model S and X were finalised prior to the CCS standard being developed and Tesla uses a Type 2 shape plug for both AC and DC quick charging. The socket is unique in that the pins in the socket are longer so when a non Tesla uses the Type 2 shaped Supercharger plug the pins do not reach. That’s, why you will see twin cable Superchargers at many sites in Australia. Owners of Model S and X can purchase an adapter for both CCS 2 and CHAdeMO quick chargers.
The reason why there is so much confusion regarding required plug standards in Australia is because the Australian government has still not legislated a plug standard, and importers are simply following a recommendation by the Motor Traders Association to go with the Type 2 and CCS2 standard. Initially the first Electric cars to come to Australia were Japanese and equipped with J1772 and CHAdeMO sockets, for a while even European PHEVs were equipped with J1772 plugs and early BMW i3 came with CCS1 plugs for DC quick charging. This changed when the MTA made their non binding recommendation but even today a new Leaf comes with a Type 2 AC port and CHAdeMO quick charge port, so it’s still a bit of a mess.
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