CHAdeMO

A DC fast-charging connector standard developed in Japan. Its importance in Europe is fading as more EU-market EVs use a CCS inlet.

Last reviewed

CHAdeMO is a DC fast-charging connector standard. The European Commission's observatory says the Japanese utility TEPCO developed it and that it is the official Japanese DC standard. It is DC-only: AC charging uses a separate connector. The US Department of Energy describes it as a common DC fast connector among Japanese automakers, and Natural Resources Canada says that in Canada it is not widely used by vehicle manufacturers apart from Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Outside Japan the standard has lost ground. The observatory says its importance in Europe is fading, mainly because Japanese and some French manufacturers increasingly fit EU-market EVs with a CCS inlet, and operators of high-power stations increasingly install CCS2 connectors only. The Australian Government says CHAdeMO is available for a limited selection of EVs and that few new EV models use the plug. In the US, public fast chargers use CCS, CHAdeMO or NACS connectors.

For a new-car buyer the practical point is to check which fast-charging inlet a specific model has, because CHAdeMO's role in public networks is fading in Europe.

Differs by market

In Europe, CHAdeMO's importance is fading as manufacturers move EU-market EVs to a CCS inlet. In Australia it is available for a limited selection of EVs. In Canada it is not widely used by vehicle manufacturers apart from Nissan and Mitsubishi. It is the official DC standard in Japan.

  1. European Alternative Fuels Observatory, Recharging systems
    European Commission Accessed
  2. US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
    US Department of Energy Accessed
  3. Australian Government, Electric vehicle charging equipment
    Australian Government Accessed
  4. Natural Resources Canada, Electric vehicle charging
    Government of Canada Accessed

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