One of the first questions people ask before buying an EV charger is which connector fits their car. The answer is in the car's own charging inlet, and it takes less than a minute to check.
What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2
Type 2 (also known as Mennekes) is the European standard, and the most common connector on electric vehicles sold in Israel. The inlet is round with a flat top, and it has seven pins. It supports both single-phase and three-phase charging, and therefore higher power levels too.
Type 1 (also known as J1772) is the American-Japanese standard. The inlet is fully round, with five pins, and supports single-phase charging only. In Israel it mainly appears on older cars and on cars imported from the United States.
How to check your car's connector in one minute
- Open the charging inlet cover on your car.
- Count the pins: five pins = Type 1. Seven pins = Type 2.
- Look at the shape: Type 2 has a flat top, like a "roof" over the circle. Type 1 doesn't.
Not sure? Take a photo of the charging inlet and send it to us on WhatsApp — we'll tell you exactly what fits.
Which cars use each standard
Type 2 — most cars in Israel
Tesla in its European versions (Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X), Hyundai Ioniq and Kona, Kia EV6 and Niro, MG ZS EV and MG4, Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, BYD Atto 3 and Dolphin, Geely, Chery, as well as most new plug-in hybrids.
Type 1 — older models and US imports
Early-generation Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Chevrolet Volt and Bolt from US imports, older Kia Soul EV, and some of the older plug-in hybrids.
Note: the same car model can come with either Type 1 or Type 2, depending on the production year and the market it was imported from. Always check your specific car, not just the model name.
My car is Type 1 and the stations out there are Type 2. What do I do?
This is a very common situation. Almost all public charging stations in Israel are Type 2, so an owner of a car with a Type 1 connector needs a Type 2 to Type 1 charging cable — a dedicated cable that plugs into the station at one end and into the car at the other. It's not an adapter, but a complete cable with two different ends.
For occasional charging from a regular household socket, for example on a visit or a trip, there's a portable charger with a Type 1 connector. According to the Israeli Electricity Authority guidelines, charging from a household socket is allowed only as occasional charging away from your regular parking spot and at up to 10A. For daily charging at your home parking spot, the solution is a home charging station installed by a licensed electrician. Tell us your car is Type 1, and we'll match you with a suitable station and cable.
What not to do
Don't use Type 1 to Type 2 adapters. Section 9(d) of the guidelines prohibits any adapter between the charging cable connector and the car's charging inlet, and Section 12(c) prohibits an extension cord, adapter or splitter between the charger and the socket. Safety communication passes between the car and the charger through a dedicated pin in the connector, and every additional link in the chain compromises the integrity of the protection and causes the contacts to overheat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect a Type 2 charger to a Type 1 car?
Not directly, and not through an adapter either. You need a cable or charger whose car-side end is Type 1.
Is Type 2 always faster?
Not necessarily. Charging speed is determined by the power (kW) and by what the car can accept, not by the shape of the connector. The difference is that Type 2 also allows three-phase charging, so it can reach higher power levels.
Is there a completely different standard in Israel?
For DC fast charging there are CCS2 and CHAdeMO connectors, but these are relevant only to public fast-charging stations, not to home charging.
The bottom line
Check your car's charging inlet, count the pins, and choose accordingly. If you want to see all the options — our portable chargers and charging cables come in both standards, with an Israeli plug and an importer's warranty. For daily charging at home, browse our home charging stations.
0 comments