What Is CHAdeMO Charging? The Older Rapid Standard

CHAdeMO is an older rapid DC charging standard, best known from cars like the older Nissan Leaf. It delivers direct current straight to the battery for fast top-ups, using its own dedicated connector separate from the AC port. Today it is gradually being phased out in favour of CCS, which most modern EVs use. Like all rapid chargers, CHAdeMO points are tethered, so you never bring your own cable, unlike the Type 2 lead you use for everyday AC charging at home. If your car has a CHAdeMO port, it will still charge at points that offer it, though availability may reduce over time.

At a glance: CHAdeMO charging

What is CHAdeMO charging?

CHAdeMO is a rapid DC charging standard that sends direct current straight to the battery for fast top-ups. It was one of the early rapid standards and used its own dedicated connector, separate from the AC charging port. It became closely associated with the older Nissan Leaf and a handful of other early EVs. Because it is a DC standard, the chargers are always tethered, meaning the cable is attached to the unit, so drivers never supply their own CHAdeMO cable when rapid charging.

Which cars use CHAdeMO?

CHAdeMO is found mainly on older EVs, most notably the older Nissan Leaf. It was common in the earlier years of mainstream electric cars before CCS took over. Newer EVs sold in the UK use CCS for rapid charging instead. If you drive an older EV, check its rapid charging port to see whether it is CHAdeMO or CCS, as this affects which rapid chargers you can use on longer journeys.

Is CHAdeMO being phased out?

Yes, CHAdeMO is gradually being phased out in favour of CCS. New EVs use CCS, and rapid charging networks increasingly focus their investment on CCS hardware.

• New cars: use CCS, not CHAdeMO.
• Networks: prioritising CCS as they update sites.
• Older cars: still charge at points offering CHAdeMO, though these may become less common.

Do I need a CHAdeMO cable?

No, you never buy a CHAdeMO cable. Like every rapid DC standard, CHAdeMO chargers are tethered, so the cable is permanently attached to the charging unit. You take it from the holster and plug it into your car. The only cable you ever buy is for AC charging, which uses a Type 2 to Type 2 lead on cars sold since 2018, or a Type 2 to Type 1 lead on some older cars. Rapid charging never needs your own cable.

CHAdeMO vs CCS: what is the difference?

Both are rapid DC standards, but CCS is now the mainstream choice while CHAdeMO is older and declining. CCS combines a Type 2 AC connector with two DC pins in one inlet, whereas CHAdeMO uses a separate dedicated DC connector. New EVs use CCS, and networks increasingly prioritise it. If you are buying a used EV and plan to rely on rapid charging, a CCS car is the more future-proof choice, since CHAdeMO availability may reduce as sites are upgraded.

Frequently asked questions

What is CHAdeMO charging?

CHAdeMO is an older rapid DC charging standard that delivers direct current straight to the battery for fast top-ups. It uses its own dedicated connector and is best known from the older Nissan Leaf. Like all rapid chargers it is tethered, so the cable is attached to the unit and you never bring your own.

Which cars use CHAdeMO?

CHAdeMO is mainly found on older EVs, most notably the older Nissan Leaf, from the earlier years of electric cars. Newer EVs sold in the UK use CCS instead. If you drive an older EV, check its rapid charging port to confirm whether it uses CHAdeMO or CCS.

Is CHAdeMO being replaced by CCS?

Yes. CHAdeMO is being phased out in favour of CCS, which new EVs use and which networks increasingly prioritise. Older CHAdeMO cars can still charge where the standard is offered, but availability may gradually reduce as charging sites are updated to focus on CCS hardware.

Do I need to buy a CHAdeMO cable?

No. CHAdeMO chargers are tethered, so the cable is permanently attached. You only ever buy a cable for AC charging, which uses a Type 2 to Type 2 lead on modern cars, or a Type 2 to Type 1 lead on some older ones. Rapid charging never requires your own cable.

Can I still use CHAdeMO chargers?

Yes, if your car has a CHAdeMO port you can still use chargers that offer it. However, as networks focus more on CCS, CHAdeMO points may become less common over time. It is worth checking charger availability along your route if you rely on CHAdeMO for longer journeys.

Is CHAdeMO slower than CCS?

Both are rapid DC standards, and real speed depends on the charger, the car and the battery state rather than the standard alone. The more important difference is availability: CCS is now mainstream and expanding, while CHAdeMO is older and declining, which matters most when planning longer trips.

CHAdeMO is the older rapid standard, so for the mainstream one read what is CCS charging, and for the full range of plugs see EV charging connectors explained. Whichever rapid port your car uses, your everyday home cable is separate, so match your car on the cable finder.