Here is a comparative table of the latest (as of 05/27/2022) Tesla charge connectors (with port and some plug illustrations) used in three key market areas within the Tesla car world—mainland China, North America (with Japan and South Korea), and Europe (with Oceania and coastal east-Asia). The charge-equipment standards used for new Tesla cars in those regions are, respectively, (a) Guobiao/Tuijian (GB/T), (b) Tesla Proprietary Connector (TPC), and (c) Type 2 (Mennekes)/Combined Charging System (CCS) Combo 2.
For further information, this is an illustrated table of International Charging Plugs. In addition, a world-map showing the major Tesla sales areas and corresponding types of charging equipment connectors is here: Charging Equipment of the World. Based on the absence of supercharger and destination charger locations is many areas, future large electric-car markets may include Central and South America, Africa and Madagascar, the Indian sub-continent, and Russia, as well as collectively many other Tesla-poor nations and regions.
For further information, this is an illustrated table of International Charging Plugs. In addition, a world-map showing the major Tesla sales areas and corresponding types of charging equipment connectors is here: Charging Equipment of the World. Based on the absence of supercharger and destination charger locations is many areas, future large electric-car markets may include Central and South America, Africa and Madagascar, the Indian sub-continent, and Russia, as well as collectively many other Tesla-poor nations and regions.
Tesla Charge Ports & Plugs of the World Compared
(for Models S, X, 3, & Y)
(1), (2), & (3)
NOTES (China)(for Models S, X, 3, & Y)
(1), (2), & (3)
- The acronym "GB/T" stands for "Guobiao" ("National Standard") and "Tuijian" ("Recommended").
- Note incompatible gender and wiring differences between otherwise similar Chinese and European Type 2 plug ends.
- Older cars:
- Model S (before October 2017) and Model 3 (before November 2019) came with a single European-style Type 2 charge-port.
- These cars must use GB/T AC (alternating current) and GB/T DC (direct current) adapters in order to charge from National Standard equipment.
- Newer cars come equipped with dual GB/T ports. No National Standard adapters are required.
- All model-years use Tesla Proprietary Connection (TPC) ports, which accept both Tesla AC and DC equipment.
- The Level 2 J1772 adapter (with TPC plug) is used at public AC charging stations and for non-Tesla home/destination charging equipment.
- Third-party CHAdeMO DC fast-charge stations are found in North America.
- Until October 2021 Tesla offered a CHAdeMO adapter with TPC plug intended for use with all four models.
- Until October 2021 Tesla offered a CHAdeMO adapter with TPC plug intended for use with all four models.
- Third-party CCS1 (CCS Combo 1) DC fast-charge stations (used by almost all non-Tesla electric cars in North America) are increasing in number.
- In 2022 the Tesla CCS1 adapter finally appeared in North America, but first in an unanticipated manner--via innovative South Korean export businesses (like Harumio) and TMC and other enthusiast "pioneering" customers who bravely imported the supposedly Models 3/Y-only devices to North America, where they were found to successfully work in all model-year vehicles provided that the CCS function is "enabled" (roughly cars produced from 2020 to present, excluding 06/21-10/21).
- Update: As of September 21, 2022, Tesla has (finally) officially released its CCS1 adapter to Canada and the United States:
- Note: Tesla and third-party CCS1 adapters have a circular J1772-like socket at the top. While J1772 cable-plugs may comfortably fit into that socket, the CCS1 adapter can not be used to charge a car with (Level 2) AC charging equipment (w/J1772 plugs). (The circular CCS1 adapter socket lacks certain corresponding connecting pins that are present in the J1772 plug and that are necessary for AC charging.)
- Cars sold in Japan (Models S, X, 3), South Korea (all models), and (previously) Taiwan (S, X, 3) also come/came with Tesla proprietary (TPC) ports.
- Tesla CHAdeMO adapters with TPC plugs are sold in South Korea and Taiwan (see below) and may still be available directly from service centers in Japan.
- Despite finding widespread use in North America, the Tesla CCS Combo 1 adapter sold officially only in South Korea (see note above) is still described as being for Models 3 & Y there only.
- In TaiwanTesla has switched charging standards, again, this time to CCS2 charge-ports for Models S and X (as already found in Model 3). Older cars will continue to get by with Type 2 or even TPC ports (in the oldest vehicles).
- The CHAdeMO adapter with TPC plug is still listed.
- Two types of Tesla Generation 2 Mobile Connectors (for home AC use) are available for cars with (a) CCS2 or Type 2 ports and (b) the original TPC port.
- A (likely) goal of allowing all model-years to use all Supercharger, CCS2, and CHAdeMO sites throughout Europe has not yet been fully achieved. But the level of access is good notwithstanding, especially for certain models.
- According to Tesla, the Supercharger network is (collectively) available to all model-years (Supercharging in Europe). V2 Superchargers now have two cables to accommodate cars with either Type 2 or CCS2 ports. V3 Superchargers each have one CCS2 cable.
- Ultimately, the ability to use specific Supercharger and other DC charging sites still depends on model, age, and hardware/software-status of the car as well as availability of charging adapters (see model-specific notes, below).
- Note incompatible gender and wiring differences between the otherwise similar-appearing European and Chinese Type 2 plugs.
- Models S and X(1/22 and after)
- See Post #20 for updated information.
- New cars will not use CHAdeMO (Type 2 plug) adapters.
- And they cannot connect with DC-power cables with Type 2 plugs.
- They can, however, use AC-power Type 2 plugs.
- Models S and X (before 2022)
- All years came with Type 2 charge-ports (pictured in the Table, above).
- Note subtle modifications to the basic "Mennekes" design in the Model S port pictured below. Only Models S and X were apparently originally intended to use Superchargers.
- To use CCS2 equipment, a CCS Combo 2 (CCS2-to-Type 2) adapter is required.
- Cars made before May 2019 also require a hardware retrofit to use Tesla CCS2 adapters. Newer cars do not need such a retrofit.
- A Tesla CHAdeMO adapter (with Type 2 plug) remains available (for Models S & X only). Older vehicles must be Supercharger-enabled (at a Service Center) to accept the CHAdeMO adapter. Newer vehicles come Supercharger-enabled from the factory.
- In summary, all Models S & X (with qualifications) should now be able to charge at:
- V2 Superchargers.
- V3 Superchargers (using a CCS Combo 2 adapter--see note above on whether a hardware retrofit is needed).
- Third-party CCS2 charging stations (using that CCS2 adapter).
- Third-party CHAdeMO stations (using the CHAdeMO adapter--see note above on needing to be Supercharger-enabled).
- Models 3 & Y
- Since November 2018 Models 3 and Y come outfitted with CCS Combo 2 inlet-ports (pictured in the Table, above).
- Models 3 & Y outfitted with CCS2 ports should be able to charge at:
- V2 Superchargers (which have been retrofitted with CCS2 charging cables).
- V3 Superchargers.
- Third-party CCS2 charging stations.
- Sadly, these cars cannot use Supercharger cables with Type 2 plugs.
- And they cannot use Tesla CHAdeMO adapters.
- Other areas that use European-style charge connectors include New Zealand, Australia, Macao, Hong Kong, and (now) Taiwan.
- In Australia and New Zealand (part of Oceania) Tesla sells Models S, X, and 3.
- Supercharger characteristics are similar to those in Europe.
- V2 Superchargers now have CCS2 and Type 2 (modified) charge cables.
- Proprietary Supercharger Type 2 plugs have that extra "key" that prevents entry into non-Tesla car (Type 2) ports.
- V3 Superchargers have CCS2 cables only. - I assume that Models S & X will start to be outfitted with CCS2 charge-ports, like Model 3.
- A Tesla CCS Combo 2 adapter (CCS2-to-Type 2) is available for older cars.
- As is a Tesla CHAdeMO adapter (with Type 2 plug). - Model 3 comes with the CCS2 port (Tesla Charging in Australia).
- These cars require no adapter to use CCS2 Supercharger and third-party charging stations.
- But are unable to use the Tesla CHAdeMO DC adapter or Supercharger Type 2 cables.
- Supercharger characteristics are similar to those in Europe.
- In Hong Kong and Macao Tesla sells the GB/T-to-Type 2 AC adapter (see Mainland China notes) on its websites.
- See also information about Taiwan under "NOTES (North America)," above. Models S and X now come outfitted with CCS2 ports.
- In Australia and New Zealand (part of Oceania) Tesla sells Models S, X, and 3.
- Charge-plug-end illustrations are not to scale.
- The (4-color) charge-plug illustrations (derived from Wikipedia sources) are intended to reveal:
- The full range of possible connection-circuit functions, and
- internal and external differences among regional equipment.
- Individual circuit pathways may or may not be active or even present depending on whether a plug is intended for AC or DC loads.
- We know that charging a Tesla car from one region (say North America) in another region (Europe, for example) may be possible.
- But research, planning, and preparation should be undertaken before taking a car from one region to another.
- Despite that, not all charging options (e.g., Supercharging) may ultimately be available.
- Aftermarket adapters may be available to increase charging opportunities in the region to be visited. Such 3rd-party adapters may lack Tesla emergency-current-disconnect safeguards, however. Use appropriate caution when selecting and employing non-Tesla charging accessories.
- Also, we are told that not all vehicle features, like Navigation, may function properly in a new region.
- So if you plan to take a car from one region to another, investigate carefully and thoroughly beforehand.
- See Charging Equipment of the World for a map showing where various types of charging equipment are used in the different countries.
- Sources included Wikipedia, Electrek, Teslarati, Reddit, and the TMC.
- In recent years Tesla vehicles and charging equipment in China and Europe have undergone significant (and cumulatively expensive) charge-standard conversions that affected both newer and older cars.
- It is conceivable that Tesla in North American could bow to internal or external pressures and eventually do away with its long-time North American proprietary charging (TPC) standard since...
- increasingly, most electric cars, both worldwide and in North America, use charging-equipment standards other than TPC.
- No change. Cars, Superchargers, and Tesla charging equipment (wall and mobile connectors and optional adapters) continue to use the popular and convenient Tesla Proprietary Connector (TPC) ports and plugs. (Non-Tesla drivers allowed to use Superchargers would presumably have to employ a TPC-to-CCS1 adapter or be limited to selected Supercharger stalls outfitted with CCS1 cables.)
- New and retrofitted Superchargers start to come with CCS1 (CCS Combo 1) charge cables, increasingly requiring Tesla operators to use CCS1-to-TPC adapters for the fastest charging.
- At some point Tesla transitions to a new North American standard--new cars, Superchargers, and mobile charging equipment all eventually come with CCS1 (or other?) ports and plugs. Older cars have to use a CCS1 adapter.
Last edited:
