CCS2, GB/T and EV charging adapters in Dubai: what drivers need to know

VoltUp is a licensed Charge Point Operator (CPO) in Dubai, UAE, with its current public charging station in Umm Ramool. Some EVs that come to our station do not use the same charging connector as our chargers. This guide explains what that means for you, how adapters work at our station, problems our team has run into and how we handled them, and which models we have charged so far.

What connector does VoltUp use?

Every DC charger at VoltUp Umm Ramool uses native CCS2 cables. A charger's rating is not a guarantee of the power an individual car receives. Current equipment details and current connector and adapter support are on the station page.

In our experience, EVs supplied new through official UAE and GCC dealers usually use CCS2. These cars connect directly, without an adapter.

Cars imported from other markets can be different. Some Chinese-market vehicles, including some BYD vehicles, use the Chinese GB/T standard instead of CCS2. Some US-market Teslas use a connector that is not CCS2 either. These cars may need an adapter; confirm your specific vehicle with us before relying on adapter support.

What does a CCS2-to-GB/T adapter do?

Plugging in an EV is not only a physical connection. Before charging starts, the charger and the car exchange the information needed to start a session. This is often called the handshake.

CCS2 and GB/T speak different "languages" for this handshake. A CCS2-to-GB/T adapter works like a translator between those two languages, so the charger and the car can understand each other and the session can start correctly.

We currently keep more than 35 adapters on site for supported vehicles. We always use our own VoltUp-certified adapters, free to use and matched to your car and our chargers, so please leave the adapter that came with your car in the car. Our adapters do not reduce charging power.

Do you need to check anything before you come?

In most cases you don't need to do anything: our team brings the right adapter. Not sure about your car? Ask us first.

Adapter support is available on site for a wide range of EVs that do not use native CCS2. If your vehicle needs an adapter, contact the VoltUp team or ask on site to confirm compatibility. Adapter support is not a guarantee for every vehicle, market version or software version. You can call or WhatsApp us on +971 52 557 6145; the number is monitored 24/7.

When you arrive, a VoltUp operator connects the cable to your car, including the adapter if your car needs one, and helps you scan the QR code to start the session. We do this for every customer, day and night. Charging after dark? See our guide to charging at night in Dubai.

Problems we have run into with adapters, and how we handled them

Adapters add an extra step to the handshake, so sometimes a session does not start the first time. These are situations our team has dealt with.

The car's battery system is in standby. One issue we have encountered is a failed handshake because the car's battery management system (BMS) is in standby: the car effectively thinks it is parked and does not accept charging. In that case, a VoltUp operator may ask the driver to move the car a few metres forward and reverse back into the same bay. The operator then restarts the session and checks that charging can go ahead.

A car's software has been updated. We have encountered cases where a vehicle software update affected the communication between an adapter and the car. If an adapter keeps failing with a particular car after several tries, we check with our adapter supplier whether an adapter firmware update is available and suitable for that vehicle.

Older battery systems. We previously ran into a handshake issue with a Geely Farizon that used an older BMS. After an adapter firmware update, that case was resolved.

Our team handles, maintains and checks the adapters as part of daily station operations.

What if a session stops halfway?

Sometimes a session that started normally stops in the middle. Possible causes our operations team has identified include:

• the car's battery management system going into standby

• the car's battery management system overheating

• a charger-side temperature condition

• an adapter fault

Do not try to fix connectors or adapters yourself. Ask a VoltUp operator. Depending on the cause, they may restart the session, use another adapter, or move your car to another charger.

Models we have charged at our station

Our team keeps a full record of the EV models that have charged at our Umm Ramool station, including Chinese-market imports and range-extender models, and shows how each one connects. You can search it by brand or model on our EV compatibility page.

Model not listed, or not sure about your car? Ask us before you travel.

Before you travel: a quick checklist

• Know your connector. In our experience, EVs from official UAE dealers usually use CCS2, but check your car's connector, especially if it was imported.

• Unsure? Ask first. Call or WhatsApp +971 52 557 6145, or see the contact page.

• Find the station. VoltUp, 22B Street 25, Umm Ramool, Dubai, UAE. Get directions

• Check availability. The VoltUp app shows station availability, but availability can change before you arrive and reservations are not offered.