The numbers at a glance.
Pins, peak power, voltage range, and how many regions actually rolled this connector out.
What the plug actually looks like.
The mechanical design, pin layout, and the names this connector goes by in the wild.
AC connector looks similar to Type 2 but with reversed gender (male on vehicle, female on charger). DC connector is a separate large round plug with 9 pins
Also known as: Guobiao, Chinese standard, GB/T 20234
How fast it actually delivers.
Theoretical peaks vs. what you'll see at most public stations.
Regions running on GB/T (Chinese Standard).
Geographies that adopted this standard, and the brands shipping cars with it from the factory.
BYD, NIO, XPeng, Li Auto, Geely, SAIC, Tesla (China), BMW (China), VW (China)
How we got this connector.
The standards bodies, automakers, and political fights that shaped it.
China's national EV charging standard, GB/T 20234, was developed by China's Standardization Administration. The major 2015 revision established the current specifications. With over 3 million public charging points, China has the world's largest EV charging network, all using GB/T. The next-generation ChaoJi connector, developed jointly with the CHAdeMO Association, targets 900 kW charging.
Where GB/T (Chinese Standard) stands today.
Mandatory in China, which accounts for over 60% of global EV sales. Not used outside China except in Belarus. The ChaoJi successor standard aims for backward compatibility with both GB/T DC and CHAdeMO connectors. Chinese EV exports to Europe use CCS2 adapters.
What every NACS driver actually deals with.
GB/T is the EV connector outside the Western EV-news bubble. China alone accounts for over 60% of global EV sales, and every public charging point in the country runs on a Chinese-only standard that looks deceptively similar to Europe's Type 2 — but is incompatible with everything outside China and Belarus. If you're driving, renting, or buying a Chinese EV, here's what the rest of the world doesn't tell you.
Two plugs, one standard.
GB/T's most distinctive trait: AC and DC are physically different connectors, not a unified design like NACS or CCS. The AC plug looks like a European Type 2 — but with reversed gender — and won't seat in either format. Every Chinese EV ships with two separate ports.
Why China went its own way.
China's GB/T 20234 was published in 2011 — three years before SAE finalized CCS1 (2014) and a full year before Tesla's proprietary connector (2012). By the time the Western standards-war began, China already had a national standard, a domestic manufacturing base around it, and political momentum to keep it. The 2015 revision locked in the design that's now embedded in every Chinese highway, residential complex, and shopping-mall parking garage. The 2023 revision pushed peak DC power to 1,200 kW — higher than NACS V4 — but real-world deployments at that level remain rare.
The practical consequence: outside China and Belarus, GB/T cars can't charge. Adapters between GB/T and CCS or NACS are technically possible but are not standardized, not certified for safety in most markets, and not available at scale. When BYD, NIO, MG, or any Chinese automaker exports a vehicle, the factory swaps the GB/T port for whatever the destination uses — CCS2 for Europe, NACS for North America, Type 2 for parts of Australia.
“Same Model Y. Different plug. Different Supercharger network.”
Tesla operates a separate Supercharger network in China, distinct from the one in the rest of the world. Cars sold in China have GB/T DC ports — not NACS — and the China network speaks GB/T natively. A Model Y bought in Shanghai cannot charge at a Supercharger in Los Angeles, and vice versa, without aftermarket adapters that don't officially exist.
Where Chinese EVs go abroad.
When BYD, NIO, MG, GWM, or any Chinese automaker ships a car overseas, the factory swaps the GB/T ports for the destination's standard. The same car model can have three different connector configurations depending on which market it's sold in.
Things travelers actually trip on.
What this means if you're abroad.
Practical advice for crossing borders with an EV — what works, what won't, and what to bring.
“If you rent an EV in China, all charging infrastructure uses GB/T. The connectors look similar to European Type 2 but are NOT compatible. Chinese EVs exported to other markets are adapted with CCS2 or NACS ports for local standards.”
Questions readers actually ask.
The three things people Google about this connector — answered without the marketing spin.
What is GB/T (Chinese Standard)?Open
GB/T (Chinese Standard) is a AC and DC (separate connectors) EV charging connector with 7 pins. AC connector looks similar to Type 2 but with reversed gender (male on vehicle, female on charger). DC connector is a separate large round plug with 9 pins. It supports up to 1,200 kW (1500V, 800A with 2023 revision).
Which countries use GB/T (Chinese Standard)?Open
GB/T (Chinese Standard) is used in China (mandatory), Belarus. Mandatory in China, which accounts for over 60% of global EV sales.
Is GB/T (Chinese Standard) still being used in 2026?Open
Mandatory in China, which accounts for over 60% of global EV sales. Not used outside China except in Belarus. The ChaoJi successor standard aims for backward compatibility with both GB/T DC and CHAdeMO connectors. Chinese EV exports to Europe use CCS2 adapters.
The rest of the EV plug zoo.
Every other connector standard we've documented — at the speed of one click.
Need it for a country? We index all 195+.
Last verified: July 2026 · Verified by PlugHopper Travel Experts