The first technical term new EV owners run into is the connector type. The shop tells you to get a Type 2, your neighbour says his car is GB/T, and online you keep seeing CCS and CHAdeMO. This article explains what each one is and which one your car actually needs.

Start with the basic split: AC and DC

• AC (alternating current) — the slow and medium-speed charging you use at home, at the office or in a car park. Energy arrives as alternating current and the car's onboard charger converts it.
• DC (direct current) — the fast chargers you find on main roads. Conversion happens inside the station rather than the car, which is why the power is many times higher.

This matters because AC and DC use different connectors, and most cars have both.

Type 2 — the European standard

Mandatory across the European Union, and the large majority of public AC stations installed in Azerbaijan use it. Seven pins, round with a flattened top edge.

It carries up to 7.4 kW on a single-phase supply and up to 22 kW on three-phase. Every EV built for the European market has this inlet — Volkswagen, Polestar, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and the BYD and Zeekr models officially sold in Europe.

GB/T — the Chinese standard

This is the most important standard for the Azerbaijani market, because most EVs arriving in the country come directly from China. The Chinese-market versions of BYD, Zeekr, Li Auto, NIO, Changan and Skywell all use GB/T.

It looks similar to Type 2, but the pin layout differs — the two are not interchangeable. To use a Type 2 station you need either an adapter or a charger with a GB/T connector.

Type 1 — the older US and Japanese standard

Five pins, single-phase only. Found on the first-generation Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and some hybrids built for the US market. Maximum 7.4 kW.

CCS 2 and GB/T DC — fast charging

• CCS 2 (Combo 2) — a Type 2 inlet with two extra power pins underneath. Standard on European models.
• GB/T DC — a separate DC socket on Chinese models.

ELCAR's DC stations support both standards, so they work with European and Chinese vehicles alike.

So which one do I need?

The simplest approach is to open the charging flap and look at the inlet:

What you see	Standard	What you need
Flat top edge, 7 pins	Type 2	Type 2 wallbox or cable
Looks like Type 2 but different pins	GB/T	GB/T wallbox or Type 2 to GB/T adapter
Five pins, smaller	Type 1	Type 1 wallbox or cable
Two large extra pins below	CCS 2	Public DC station

If you are not sure, send us a photo of the inlet and we will identify it.

Adapter or a matching charger?

This question comes up constantly for owners of Chinese-imported cars. The answer depends on how you charge:

• Daily charging at home — buy a wallbox with a GB/T connector. Using an adapter every single day adds another connection point and more heat.
• On the road, at public stations — keep a Type 2 to GB/T adapter in the boot. Most public stations here are Type 2, so it gets you out of trouble.

Tethered or socket-only stations?

Some public stations are socket-only, meaning you have to bring your own cable. Keeping a cable matching your car's standard in the boot is simply practical. A 32A cable carries up to 22 kW, a 16A cable up to 11 kW.

Conclusion

Choosing the wrong connector is the most common and most frustrating mistake — the device arrives and simply will not plug in. Checking the inlet once before ordering removes the problem entirely.

ELCAR stocks charging stations with Type 1, Type 2 and GB/T connectors, plus cables and adapters for all three standards. Tell us your model and we will pick the right option together.