CCS2 Connectors: One Plug for Cars, Buses and Trucks

CCS2 Connectors: Essential Guide

As more people have started welcoming electric vehicles (EVs), one thing has become clear, it is no longer a niche market. They have become a popular choice for people that care about the environment. It is important to have a good understanding of EV charging standards, as this aids in understanding how to efficiently charge your EV vehicle. Among the different charging standards that exist; CCS2 connectors are particularly important to have a smooth and hassle-free EV charging experience.

This guide will help you navigate the nuances of CCS2 connectors, offering insights into their functionality, and the infrastructure supporting them that will shape your EV experience.

Charging Methodology

Several EV charging connectors are available, each with unique features and capabilities. Before we dive in-depth on the CCS2 connector we must first clarify the two EV charging methods. The two primary charging methods are AC (Alternate Current) charging and DC (Direct Current) Charging. The electrical grid current is always AC, while the EV battery only stores energy in DC form. Therefore, a power conversion must occur before storing it in the car’s battery.

During AC charging the onboard vehicle charger needs to convert the AC power to DC. Meanwhile, DC fast charging involves converting AC power to DC at the charging station before it flows into the vehicle. During DC fast charging it bypasses the vehicle’s onboard charger and delivers more power directly to the battery, thus, providing a quicker charging experience.

How CCS2 Became India’s Fast Charging Standard

India's first charging standards, Bharat AC-001 and Bharat DC-001, were designed for low-voltage, low-power vehicles. As electric cars with larger batteries arrived, they were not enough. In 2018, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published IS 17017-1, aligned with the international IEC standards, which recommended CCS2 and CHAdeMO for high-power DC charging. CHAdeMO has since largely faded from the Indian market, and CCS2 has become the default for DC fast charging. Policy now reinforces it: under the PM E-DRIVE incentive scheme for electric trucks, notified in July 2025, eligible trucks must use domestically manufactured CCS2 charging inlets.

Understanding the CCS2 Connector

The CCS2 connector is also known as the CCS Combo 2 and is the primary DC fast charging standard used in India. It combines the Mennekes Type 2 AC plug with two additional high-speed charging pins.

Let’s check some technical details about the connector:

1. EV Connector Type – CCS2
2. Output Current Type – Direct Current (DC)
3. Supply Input – 400 Volts (three-phase)
4. Max Output Current – 500 Amps (Current over 200 amps might require liquid cooling)
5. Max Output Power – 360kW to 500kW
6. Max Output Voltage – 1000 V DC
7. EV Charging Level – DC Fast Charging
8. Primary Countries – India, Europe, United Kingdom, Middle-East, Africa

How CCS2 Charging is used across Cars, Buses and Trucks

The connector is the same. The way each vehicle uses it is not:

Electric Cars
Most new electric cars in India use a CCS2 inlet. Typical public DC fast chargers in India deliver 60 to 120 kW, with premium sites offering more. Cars charge at malls, offices, fuel stations and highway stops, usually for 30 to 60 minutes.

Electric Buses
Electric bus charging mostly happens overnight at depots. India's first CCS2 fast charging network for electric buses opened at Ahmedabad's Naranpura depot in 2019, where buses could fully charge in about 2.5 hours. Many depots now use high-power dual-gun chargers with two CCS2 connectors feeding one bus. With 5,299 e-buses deployed under FAME and 27,555 covered under PM-eBus Sewa, depot charging needs to be planned very well.

Electric Trucks
Electric truck charging ranges from small cargo vehicles that top up at public stations to heavy trucks that charge at logistics hubs and depots. The PM E-DRIVE e-truck scheme offers incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per truck and requires CCS2 inlets. For heavy trucks; charger power, bay size and turning space matter as much as the connector. Internationally, the newer Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is being developed for the largest trucks, but CCS2 is where India's e-truck market is starting.

How does CCS2 Work?

From plug-in to payment, a public CCS2 session moves through five steps:

1. Plug In
   The driver connects the CCS2 connector. The charger locks it in place before any power flows.
2. Handshake
   The charger and vehicle exchange limits over power-line communication: maximum voltage, current, and the battery's state of charge.
3. Authorize
   The driver starts the session through an app, an RFID card, or automatically (Autocharge). The charger checks with its operator's back office over OCPP, and, for roaming, the operator checks with the driver's app provider over OCPI.
4. Charge
   Power ramps up to whatever is lowest: the charger's output, the vehicle's limit, or the site's available grid capacity. It tapers as the battery fills.
5. Stop and Bill
   The session ends, the connector unlocks, and the meter reading becomes the record the driver is billed on.

ChargeIndia: Innovative solutions for efficient charging of electric vehicles

A CCS2 charger is only useful if you can find it, trust it, and use it the first time. ChargeIndia brings charger data from multiple operators together through its OCPI-compliant Hub, and the ChargeIndia app puts that data in front of drivers and fleet managers at connector level, not just at station level.

Through the ChargeIndia app, you can:

1. Find CCS2 Chargers Near You
   Filter EV charging stations by connector type, so you see only the sites that fit your vehicle, whether that is CCS2, Type 2 or another standard.
2. See the Power You Will Actually Get
   Check the rated output of each connector, so you know whether a stop will take twenty minutes or two hours.
3. Check Live Availability
   See whether a specific CCS2 connector is available, in use, or out of service before you drive to it.
4. Know the Price Before You Plug In
   View the tariff for each charger upfront, so there are no surprises on the bill.
5. Plan Around Your Vehicle
   Use location details such as address, access hours and site information to judge whether a charger suits a car, a bus or a truck.

Behind the app, every operator on the Hub shares the same structured data: connector standard, power type, maximum voltage, current and power, live status, and tariffs. That consistency is what lets a driver trust the information about the charging station and enhance their charging experience.

India's charging networks, on one platform. Be part of what is next -

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