Yes! Virtually every electric vehicle you see on the road today is compatible with a standard charging station. However, there are a few nuances to keep in mind...
Type 1 versus Type 2 connector
The universal type of charging cable that you receive when buying your EV — or that is fixed to a charging station — features a Type 2 connector. This is the standard connector used in today’s vehicles.
There are also vehicles that can only charge using a Type 1 cable, but these are mostly older models or non-European cars. The Type 1 connector is no longer produced in Europe and is being phased out entirely.
Not sure whether your vehicle has a Type 1 or Type 2 connector? Then be sure to check out this list:
List of EVs with a Type 1 connector
List of EVs with a Type 1 connector
EV Model | Years with Type 1 | Notes |
Nissan Leaf (1st Gen) | 2010–2017 | Type 1 + CHAdeMO for DC |
Nissan e-NV200 | Until ~2019 | Type 1 + CHAdeMO |
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 2013–2018 (EU) | Type 1 + CHAdeMO |
Mitsubishi i-MiEV | All years (EU) | Type 1 + CHAdeMO |
Peugeot iOn / Citroën C-Zero | All years | Rebadged i-MiEV |
Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera | 2011–2015 | Type 1 |
Ford Focus Electric | 2013–2018 | Mostly US imports |
Kia Soul EV (1st Gen) | 2014–2019 (EU) | Type 1 + CHAdeMO |
Hyundai Ioniq Electric (early) | 2016–2018 (some) | Early versions, depending on market |
EVs vs PHEVs, AC vs DC
A fully electric vehicle (EV) today uses the same type of connector as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), namely the Type 2 connector. However, this doesn’t mean that you can charge at just any type of station. In this case, it's not about the connector compatibility, but rather about the charging power the station can provide.
PHEVs generally cannot charge at high-power DC fast chargers, like the ones you see along motorways (e.g., at Fastned stations). This is because the battery capacity of a PHEV is much smaller compared to that of a full EV. Therefore, the charging power is limited by the vehicle manufacturer to protect the battery.
Even at home charging stations (AC), there are limitations for PHEVs. For instance, a PHEV cannot charge at a 22 kW charging station. In that case, it doesn’t make sense to install such a powerful charger, as you won’t charge any faster than with a 7.4 kW station, for example.
So make sure to get proper advice from your car dealership before buying a PHEV under the assumption that you’ll be able to charge at high power!