Connecting apparatus for mounting on a rooftop of a vehicle or at a charging station and for providing an electrical connection between the charging station and the vehicle for charging an electrical energy storage device of the vehicle, the connecting apparatus comprising: - a contacting head for connecting to contacting head receiving means (20, 21) for transferring electrical energy; - at least one alignment means (11, 14, 15) for coupling the contacting head to the contacting head receiving means (20, 21) for electrically connecting to or disconnecting from the contacting head receiving means (20, 21), respectively; - a detector means configured to determine a position of the contacting head receiving means (20, 21); and - a control unit for controlling alignment between the contacting head and the contacting head receiving means (20, 21) in response to the determined position of the contacting head receiving means (20, 21);, wherein - the at least one alignment means (11, 14, 15) comprises a horizontal positioning means for laterally moving the contacting head in a horizontal direction; characterized in that, - a pivoting means for pivoting a contacting post carrying the contacting head at one end thereof from a parking position, in which the contacting post is substantially horizontal to a contacting position, in which the contacting post is elevated up to a vertical position; and - a vertical positioning means by telescoping the contacting post across the horizontal direction to adapt the length of the contacting post; - wherein each of the horizontal positioning means, the pivoting means and the vertical positioning means performing an alignment movement and wherein each of the alignment movement being independent from the others. - a contacting head for connecting to contacting head receiving means (20, 21) for transferring electrical energy; - at least one alignment means (11, 14, 15) for coupling the contacting head to the contacting head receiving means (20, 21) for electrically connecting to or disconnecting from the contacting head receiving means (20, 21), respectively; - a detector means configured to determine a position of the contacting head receiving means (20, 21); and - a control unit for controlling alignment between the contacting head and the contacting head receiving means (20, 21) in response to the determined position of the contacting head receiving means (20, 21);, wherein - the at least one alignment means (11, 14, 15) comprises a horizontal positioning means for laterally moving the contacting head in a horizontal direction; characterized in that, - a pivoting means for pivoting a contacting post carrying the contacting head at one end thereof from a parking position, in which the contacting post is substantially horizontal to a contacting position, in which the contacting post is elevated up to a vertical position; and - a vertical positioning means by telescoping the contacting post across the horizontal direction to adapt the length of the contacting post; - wherein each of the horizontal positioning means, the pivoting means and the vertical positioning means performing an alignment movement and wherein each of the alignment movement being independent from the others.