Type 2 is the standard AC charging connector for electric vehicles in Europe, and understanding it helps you make better decisions about where to charge.
What It Looks Like
A Type 2 connector has seven pins arranged in a roughly circular pattern, with a flat edge at the top. It's the plug you'll find on the cable at virtually every public AC charge point in the UK, and on the charging lead that came with your EV.
What It Does
Type 2 delivers AC (alternating current) charging at speeds from 3kW to 22kW, depending on the charger and the car's onboard charger capacity.
- 3.7kW single-phase: most PHEVs top out here
- 7kW single-phase: the standard home wallbox and most hotel chargers
- 11kW 3-phase: some EVs (VW ID.4, Renault Zoe, Hyundai IONIQ 5) can accept this
- 22kW 3-phase: Renault Zoe and a few others go this high
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Why It Matters for Hotel Charging
When a hotel advertises "EV charging," the key question is: what speed Type 2 charger do they have? A 3.7kW socket adds about 30 miles overnight. A 7kW wallbox adds about 200 miles. A 22kW charger adds a full charge in 2–3 hours.
Stays on Sento are labelled charging on-site, charging nearby or standard — confirm charging with the property or a live charging map such as Zapmap before you travel. A Sento Charging Promise is coming soon.
Related Reading
Ready to plan your next EV trip?
We're working on it. Here's where it stands.