What Is CCS Charging? 6 Things You Should Know About CCS Charging

Curious as to what CCS2 charging is. It can be confusing, isn't it? You are not the only one. A lot of people get mixed up with all the several ways to charge electric cars.

But here is some good news - this article is going to make it all clear to you. We are going to talk about six important things that you should know about CCS Charging. We will keep it as simple as possible and easy to understand.

So, let's get rid of the confusion and help you learn what you need to know!

What is CCS charging?

CCS Charging, which stands for Combined Charging System, is an electric vehicle (EV) charging connector that has been gaining more and more limelight across the world.

It almost works as a universal charger for EVs too - but with the specific intent that EV charging should be, quick and convenient. In this aspect, it's almost like a USB for EV charging!

The CCS charging station is the fastest way to charge your electric vehicles. These chargers are usually localized in busy roadways and are capable of charging power of up to 350 kW.

This means you'll be able to charge your EV in under 30 minutes (depends on charger’s power and car’s capabilities). It's all about giving you flexibility and freedom.

Besides, it is not a matter of just plugging in and powering up. CCS Charging is intelligent! The system communicates with your car to provide the right amount of power delivered safely and efficiently. This smart charging process saves your car battery and as a result, you can hit back on the road in no time.

Below we will discuss the type of CCS charging.

Type of CCS charging

The standard has two main types of CCS that cater to different regions and vehicles, namely the CCS1 and the CCS2.

Below is an outline of them in detail.

1.     CCS1 Charging

As aforementioned, the CCS1 is majorly applicable in North America. It's the standard you'll come across if you're driving an electric vehicle in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

The CCS1 connector is completed with two DC charging pins by the J1772 connector (for Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging in North America).

What sets apart CCS1 from the others is a unique design built in view of specific electrical systems and cars driven in North America.

Being an owner of an electric vehicle in North America, you will feel most probably dependent on the CCS1 fast-charge facilities where you can get short recharge times to have your vehicle ready to defy new travels across the town.

2.     CCS2 Charging

On the other end, CCS2 (CCS2 Combo) is the standard adopted in Europe and other parts of the world. It builds upon the Type 2 Mennekes connector widely used for AC charging in these regional soils, combined with two additional DC fast charging pins similar to CCS1.

CCS2 will be seen as all-rounded with the ability to support both single-phase as well as three-phase electrical systems. This gives it the ability to accommodate a vast array of power supply options found in different countries and thus its popularity for use worldwide.

Whether from work, from charger at the gas station, or at the mall, the CCS2 DC charger ensures EV drivers in Europe and around the globe have a reliable and efficient charging solution.

Besides the above, some other important facts that you should know are.

6 Important facts about CCS2 charging

1.     Connector Type: A Type 2 Connection with Two DC Contacts

The design of the connector is hybrid in the case of CCS2. It joins the popular AC charging Type 2 Mennekes connector, primarily used in Europe, but with two additional DC contacts to enable very fast DC charging.

This makes the CSS2 connector design extremely versatile. It allows for both slow, home charging and fast, on-the-go charging, all through the same port in our vehicle.

2.     Charging Speed

Speed is one of the main selling points of CCS2 fast charging. While the exact charging rate may vary based on the particular electric car and how powerful the charging station is, the CCS2 charging station can reach up to 350 kW.

That means you could feasibly add hundreds of kilometers of range to your EV in just a short coffee break, making those long road trips easier than ever. Currently the fastest charging vehicles utulize an 800V battery architecture and they are capable of charging in under 20 minutes (20-80%). 

3.     Predominant Standard in Europe

For example, to ensure compatibility and availability across the entire continent, the European Union has already adopted CCS2 charging cable for use as the electric vehicle charging standard.

This move should simplify the EV experience greatly, as drivers will then no longer have to rely on a plethora of adapters to plug into their charging stations and can bank on having a high number of such ports available nearby.

4.     Will Upcoming Electric Cars Accommodate the CCS2 Standard?

A bright future for electric vehicles in Europe essentially depends on the CCS2 standard. There are no signs that the CCS2 charging will be changed in near future.

This provides a forward-thinking approach to ensure that new EV models will be future-compatible with the existing and booming charging infrastructure.

5.     Cost of CCS2 Charging in Europe

CCS2 station charging costs may generally depend on the operator, location, and time of the day. In certain cases, there may be providers with subscription offerings or pay-as-you-go, where no long-term payment commitment is necessary for users.

Fast charging solutions are usually more expensive in relation to home-based solutions, as in, slower chargers. CCS2 charging costs around 0.50 euro per kWh, compared to 0.15 euro per kWh for Type 2 (slow) charging. However, for many EV owners, the additional convenience and potential time-savings more than offset the cost.

6.     Popular Charging Infrastructure Companies in Europe

Europe benefits from several leading electric vehicle infrastructure companies that have agreed to make CCS2 fast charging available. Companies like Ionity, Fastned, and ChargePoint continue to lead the way ever expanding their reliable high-speed CCS2 charging networks.

These companies, not only contribute to the infrastructure but also play a very big part in advancing the EV ecosystem making electric driving more accessible and convenient.

Final Words

So that's all about the CCS charging. Whether you are a current electric vehicle owner, considering making the switch, or just curious about the technology, you must grasp CCS charging, especially the CCS2 standard in Europe. This CCS charging system with its versatility, convenience, and growing infrastructure is the future as electric mobility proceeds into the future.