Three Standards, One Market
Poland's public charging infrastructure was built incrementally, and the equipment installed reflects the connector landscape of each era. Older stations from 2015–2019 frequently offer only Type 2 AC and CHAdeMO DC. Newer stations installed from 2020 onward overwhelmingly pair Type 2 AC with CCS Combo 2 DC. A third category — ultra-rapid HPC (High Power Charging) stations — offers CCS Combo 2 exclusively, at power levels from 150 kW to 350 kW.
As of early 2026, the Polish Alternative Fuels Association (PSPA) reports approximately 6,200 public charging points across Poland, with CCS Combo 2 now accounting for the majority of DC fast-charge sockets.
Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) — AC Charging
The Type 2 connector, defined by IEC standard 62196-2 and mandated for AC charging across the European Union since 2014, is the universal standard for single-phase and three-phase AC charging in Poland. Every new EV sold in the EU since 2014 includes a Type 2 inlet as standard.
Physical characteristics
Type 2 has seven pins arranged in a semicircular pattern: two for single-phase AC power, three for three-phase AC power, one protective earth, and one pilot/control line. The connector is keyed so it cannot be inserted incorrectly. A locking mechanism activates automatically when charging begins, preventing accidental disconnection.
Charging speeds
- Single-phase 230 V / 16 A: 3.7 kW — standard home socket equivalent, approximately 27 km of range per hour for an average mid-sized EV.
- Single-phase 230 V / 32 A: 7.4 kW — typical home wallbox output, approximately 55 km per hour.
- Three-phase 400 V / 16 A: 11 kW — common at workplace and destination chargers.
- Three-phase 400 V / 32 A: 22 kW — maximum AC speed at most public Type 2 stations. Requires the car's onboard charger to accept three-phase input at 32 A. Many vehicles cap AC charging at 7.4 kW or 11 kW regardless of station capability.
The Type 2 cable is also used as the AC side of CCS Combo 2. On CCS stations, the same socket accepts both standard Type 2 plugs and the extended CCS plug.
CCS Combo 2 — DC Fast Charging
Combined Charging System (CCS) Combo 2 — formally IEC 62196-3 Configuration FF — extends the Type 2 socket with two additional DC power pins below the standard seven-pin cluster. This allows the same physical inlet on the car to accept both AC Type 2 cables and DC CCS cables, eliminating the need for a separate DC inlet.
Why CCS became dominant in Europe
CHAdeMO, the earlier DC standard developed in Japan, requires a completely separate inlet. European manufacturers — including Volkswagen Group, BMW Group, Stellantis, Renault, and Mercedes-Benz — adopted CCS from the outset of their EV programmes. When Hyundai and Kia entered the European market with dedicated EV platforms (IONIQ 5, EV6), they also chose CCS for European variants. Tesla introduced CCS inlets on all European-market vehicles from late 2019 onward, abandoning its proprietary connector for the EU market.
Charging speeds
| Station Type | Maximum Power | Approx. Range Added per 20 min |
|---|---|---|
| Standard DC (older stations) | 50 kW | ~100 km |
| Fast DC (Orlen Charge, GreenWay) | 100–150 kW | ~200 km |
| HPC (Ionity, selected Orlen) | 250–350 kW | ~300 km |
Actual charge speed is limited by whichever is lower: the station's maximum output or the car's maximum DC charge rate. A vehicle rated for 100 kW DC will not exceed that even when connected to a 350 kW HPC station.
CHAdeMO — The Declining Standard
CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve) was developed by a Japanese consortium led by Tokyo Electric Power Company and major Japanese automakers. It uses a proprietary round connector entirely separate from the AC inlet and was the first DC fast-charging standard widely deployed in Europe.
As of 2026, CHAdeMO is used almost exclusively by first- and second-generation Nissan Leaf models (2011–2022) and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The Nissan Ariya, released in Europe from 2022, uses CCS Combo 2. Kia and Hyundai phased out CHAdeMO on their European models after 2019.
CHAdeMO in Poland today
Most CHAdeMO sockets at Polish stations are 50 kW. Some older GreenWay stations include 62.5 kW CHAdeMO. New stations rarely include CHAdeMO at all — operators have stopped installing it in response to falling demand. Owners of CHAdeMO-only vehicles should verify socket availability before longer journeys, particularly on less-travelled routes in eastern Poland where coverage is thinner.
Connector Compatibility at a Glance
| Vehicle | AC Inlet | DC Inlet | Max DC (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y (EU) | Type 2 | CCS Combo 2 | 250 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | Type 2 | CCS Combo 2 | 135 |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 (EU) | Type 2 | CCS Combo 2 | 220 |
| BMW i4 | Type 2 | CCS Combo 2 | 205 |
| Nissan Leaf (2018–2022) | Type 2 | CHAdeMO | 50 |
| Renault Zoe (ZE50) | Type 2 | CCS Combo 2 | 50 |
Public Networks in Poland Using CCS
Orlen Charge operates the largest network in Poland by number of locations, with stations at Orlen petrol stations across the country. Most new Orlen Charge DC points are 150 kW CCS, with selected A1 and A2 motorway locations offering 300 kW HPC.
GreenWay covers Central and Eastern Europe with a focus on Polish motorway corridors. Stations range from 50 kW to 150 kW, predominantly CCS with some residual CHAdeMO sockets at older sites.
Ionity operates HPC stations at 350 kW along the main European motorway corridors. In Poland, Ionity locations are concentrated on the A1, A2, and A4 motorways, providing CCS-only charging for long-distance travel.