What Type 2 is
Type 2, often referred to as Mennekes, is the common AC connector for European electric vehicles. It is described by IEC 62196-2. It allows both single-phase and three-phase charging, so it carries 3.7 kW from a basic single-phase station as well as 22 kW from a three-phase one.
How it differs from Type 1 and CCS
Type 1 (Yazaki) is a single-phase connector found mainly on older cars and on models from Asia and the USA. CCS2 is based on Type 2 and adds two large DC contacts for fast charging. A car with a CCS2 port therefore charges on AC with a normal Type 2 plug in the same port.
The connector is not the same as the power
When selecting a wallbox, it is important to distinguish the vehicle connector, onboard charger power and the maximum power of the charging station. The EVmate configurator therefore asks for the vehicle model and exact variant, so the recommendation matches the real vehicle limit. The resulting power is set by the weakest link: station, cable, onboard charger or breaker.
What to consider with a cable
A fixed cable on the wallbox is the most convenient, while a station with a socket offers more freedom. A detachable cable must match the current and phases, otherwise it limits charging. The cable connector carries information about its rating, which the station respects.