EV plugs in Costa Rica: which one fits your car
Costa Rica's chargers follow the US standard: J1772 for slow AC charging and CCS1, CHAdeMO and GB/T for fast DC. Here is what fits your car, with or without an adapter, how long charging takes and what it costs.
Your car's port → what fits in Costa Rica
What you will actually find at stations and outlets in Costa Rica, and which cars each one fits. Pick your car's port to see what works for it.
- J1772AC · most slow chargersDirect: CCS1, J1772 + CHAdeMO · Adapter: GB/T, CCS2, NACS (Tesla)
- Wall outlet110/220 V · home, hotel, B&BDirect: CCS1, J1772 + CHAdeMO, GB/T, CCS2, NACS (Tesla)
- Type 2AC · rare wallboxesDirect: CCS2 · Adapter: CCS1, J1772 + CHAdeMO, GB/T, NACS (Tesla)
- CCS1DC · the main ICE fast networkDirect: CCS1 · Adapter: GB/T, CCS2, NACS (Tesla)
- GB/T DCDC · some ICE stationsDirect: GB/T · Adapter: CCS1, CCS2
- CHAdeMODC · almost all ICE stationsDirect: J1772 + CHAdeMO
- CCS2DC · a handful of pointsDirect: CCS2 · Adapter: CCS1, GB/T
All plugs, front view
Tap a plug to see its pins, where it is standard and which cars use it.
AC pin (slow, alternating current)DC pin (fast, direct current)GroundSignal
J1772ACType 1 · SAE J1772CR: everywhere
The American AC-only plug: round, with a latch on top. A CCS1 plug is this same J1772 with two thick DC pins added below.
- Current
- AC only, single phase
- Power
- Up to 19.2 kW by the standard, 3.3–7.4 kW in practice
- Voltage
- 120–240 V
- Pins
- AC pin (slow, alternating current): L1, N / L2 · Ground: PE · Signal: CP, PP
In Costa Rica The most common plug on slow chargers in Costa Rica: banks, hotels, malls, CNFL and home wallboxes — the country imports most cars and charging equipment from the US. Cars with a Type 2 or CCS2 port use it through a J1772 → Type 2 adapter.
Countries and regions: USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea (older cars), Costa Rica, Central America
Cars: Nissan Leaf (AC port), Chevrolet Bolt (top of CCS1), US-market Hyundai and Kia, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Most cars imported from the US
Type 2ACMennekes · IEC 62196-2CR: rare
The European AC plug with a flat top and 7 pins. It supports three-phase power, so AC charging in Europe goes up to 22 kW. It is also the top half of a CCS2 port.
- Current
- AC, single or three phase
- Power
- Up to 7.4 kW single phase, up to 22 kW three phase
- Voltage
- 230/400 V
- Pins
- Signal: PP, CP · AC pin (slow, alternating current): N, L1, L3, L2 · Ground: PE
In Costa Rica Rare: a few wallboxes and dealers of European and Chinese brands. The network was built around the US standard, and three-phase power is uncommon at private sites. Cars with a Type 2 or CCS2 port plug in directly.
Countries and regions: European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Middle East, India, Brazil, Chile, Southeast Asia
Cars: Geely EX2 / EX5 (export versions), European VW, BMW, Renault, Tesla Model 3/Y (Europe), Export versions of BYD
CCS1AC + DCCombo 1 · SAE J1772 ComboCR: everywhere
J1772 on top plus two thick DC pins below — the North American fast-charging standard. At a DC station the cable usually has only the DC part.
- Current
- AC through the top, DC through the bottom
- DC power
- 50–350 kW (50–100 kW at ICE stations)
- DC voltage
- Up to 1000 V
- Pins
- AC pin (slow, alternating current): L1, N · Ground: PE · Signal: CP, PP · DC pin (fast, direct current): DC+, DC−
In Costa Rica The main fast-charging plug of ICE and CNFL, found at almost every fast charger; ICE is expanding its network mostly with CCS1 and GB/T DC. Cars with a CCS2 port need a CCS1 → CCS2 DC adapter, which the networks don't officially support.
Countries and regions: USA, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Costa Rica
Cars: Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E (US), Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Kia EV6 (US), VW ID.4 (US), Cars imported from the US
CCS2AC + DCCombo 2 · IEC 62196-3CR: almost none
Type 2 on top plus two DC pins below. The most widespread fast-charging standard outside the US, China and Japan.
- Current
- AC through the top, DC through the bottom
- DC power
- 50–400 kW
- DC voltage
- Up to 1000 V
- Pins
- Signal: PP, CP · AC pin (slow, alternating current): N, L1, L3, L2 · Ground: PE · DC pin (fast, direct current): DC+, DC−
In Costa Rica Only a handful of private stations, none on the ICE network. Chinese brands often bring Latin American and European versions with CCS2 to Costa Rica, while the charging network stayed American — so CCS2 cars charge on AC with an adapter or look for the rare CCS2 point.
Countries and regions: European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Middle East, India, South Africa
Cars: Geely EX2 (Geome), EX5, European EVs, Tesla Model 3/Y (Europe), Export versions of BYD, MG, Chery
CHAdeMODCJapanese DC standardCR: common
A big round DC-only plug from Japan, separate from the AC port — so the car has two ports: J1772 and CHAdeMO. It is being phased out worldwide.
- Current
- DC only
- Power
- Usually 50 kW, rarely up to 100 kW
- Voltage
- Up to 500 V
- Pins
- DC pin (fast, direct current): DC+, DC− · Signal: 7 · Ground: PE
In Costa Rica Available at almost every ICE fast charger, because Costa Rica has many used Nissan Leafs from Japan and the US. Of little use to other cars: adapters are expensive and slow.
Countries and regions: Japan, Costa Rica, USA (older stations), Europe (being phased out)
Cars: Nissan Leaf, Nissan e-NV200, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Older Kia Soul EV
GB/T DCDCChinese standardCR: common
China's national standard. Cars built for the Chinese market have two separate ports: GB/T AC (looks like Type 2, but male on the car) and GB/T DC, round with 9 pins.
- Current
- DC (there is a separate AC version)
- Power
- Usually 60–250 kW
- Voltage
- Up to 750–1000 V
- Pins
- DC pin (fast, direct current): DC+, DC− · Ground: PE · Signal: S+, S−, CC1, CC2, A+, A−
In Costa Rica Found at many ICE fast chargers, and ICE adds it as a priority. Needed by cars imported directly from China (grey imports); other cars need an adapter.
Countries and regions: China, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, Parts of Latin America (grey imports)
Cars: Cars built for the Chinese market, Grey-import BYD, Geely, Chery, Changan
NACSAC + DCTesla · SAE J3400CR: almost none
Tesla's compact plug: the same two thick pins carry both AC and DC. The new North American standard since 2025.
- Current
- AC and DC through the same pins
- DC power
- Up to 250+ kW
- Voltage
- Up to 1000 V
- Pins
- DC pin (fast, direct current): L1 / DC+, N / DC− · Ground: PE · Signal: CP, PP
In Costa Rica Almost no public stations. It arrives with Teslas and new US cars, which charge through adapters to J1772 and CCS1.
Countries and regions: USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan (Tesla), South Korea (Tesla)
Cars: Tesla Model 3/Y/S/X (US), New Ford, GM and Hyundai models for the US from 2025
How long to charge and how much to pay
A rough estimate. Enter your battery size. On AC the real speed is limited by the car's on-board charger; on DC the speed drops a lot after 80%.
Abbreviations explained
- CCS
- Combined Charging System: AC and DC in one port. The number says what is on top — the American J1772 (1) or the European Type 2 (2).
- J1772
- The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standard number for the American AC plug. In Europe it is called Type 1.
- Type 2 / Mennekes
- Mennekes is the German company that designed the plug. The European AC standard.
- CHAdeMO
- From the Japanese “O cha demo ikaga desuka” — “how about some tea?” while you charge. The Japanese DC standard.
- GB/T
- Guobiao Tuijian, China's “recommended national standard”.
- NACS
- North American Charging Standard, the former Tesla plug. Officially SAE J3400.
- AC and DC
- AC is alternating current from the grid — the car converts it itself, limited by its on-board charger. DC is direct current: the station feeds the battery directly, so it is fast.
- OBC
- On-Board Charger — the ceiling for any AC charging speed.
- EVSE
- Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment — the charging station itself or the portable charger on a cable.
- kW and kWh
- kW is speed, kWh is amount. 7 kW for one hour gives about 7 kWh.
Frequently asked questions
Which EV plugs are used in Costa Rica?
Slow (AC) chargers mostly use J1772, also called Type 1. Fast (DC) chargers of ICE and CNFL use CCS1, CHAdeMO and GB/T DC. Type 2 and CCS2 are rare.
Can I charge a car with a CCS2 port in Costa Rica?
Yes, on AC: with a J1772 → Type 2 adapter at most slow chargers, directly at the rare Type 2 wallboxes, or from a wall outlet with the car's portable charger. DC fast charging needs a CCS1 → CCS2 adapter, which the networks don't officially support — ICE warns that unauthorized adapters can damage the station and the car.
Will a car from the US charge in Costa Rica?
Yes. Costa Rica's network follows the US standard: J1772 for slow charging and CCS1 for fast charging work directly. A Tesla from the US uses its J1772 and CCS1 adapters, and a Nissan Leaf charges fast on CHAdeMO, which almost every ICE fast charger has.
What about cars imported from China?
Cars built for the Chinese market (GB/T) charge fast on the GB/T DC connector that many ICE stations have, and on AC with a common J1772 → GB/T adapter. Chinese brands sold in Costa Rica in export versions often have CCS2 instead — see the CCS2 answer above.
How much does EV charging cost in Costa Rica?
ICE's 21 kW semi-fast AC stations charge about ₡99.70 per kWh plus VAT. Private fast chargers set their own prices, often per minute, and many hotel and restaurant chargers are free for customers. Each charger page shows the price we know.
Is there a map of EV chargers in Costa Rica?
Yes — the Pura Vida Pass EV map shows 287 chargers across Costa Rica with plugs, speed, status, price and how to pay, and filters by your car's plug. It is free, in English and Spanish.
More than an EV map
Pura Vida Pass is a travel app for Costa Rica. While your car charges, find things to do nearby: tours, events, secret spots, beaches, local sodas and ready-made day trips — with a guide that answers in English and Spanish.
Sources
As of October 2026: ICE reports 45 fast-charging centers with CCS1, CHAdeMO and GB/T DC and is expanding mainly with CCS1 and GB/T DC. Aresep found that most station failures come from incompatibility with Chinese cars, and ICE warns that unauthorized adapters can damage both the station and the car. ICE's new 21 kW semi-fast AC stations charge about ₡99.70 per kWh plus VAT. The ₡150 per minute DC rate in the calculator is an example from a private fast charger — enter the tariff shown at your station.
Delfino: ICE chargers and Aresep rules · Observador: Aresep report on charger failures · electrive: 180 new ICE AC stations · La República: plug types in Costa Rica