EV Connector Types Explained: NACS, CCS1, J1772 and CHAdeMO

Short answer: in North America there are four plugs you will meet at public chargers. J1772 is the universal Level 2 (AC) plug. CCS1 and NACS are the two DC fast-charging plugs, and NACS is taking over. CHAdeMO is an older fast-charging plug you only need if you drive a Nissan Leaf.

The four connectors at a glance

Connector	Power type	Typical speed	Who uses it
J1772 (Type 1)	AC, Level 1 and 2	Up to 19 kW	Every non-Tesla EV and plug-in hybrid
CCS1	DC fast	50 to 350 kW	Most non-Tesla EVs sold through 2024
NACS (SAE J3400)	AC and DC	Up to 250 kW (V3) and 325 kW+ (V4)	Tesla, and new models from most automakers
CHAdeMO	DC fast	Usually 50 kW	Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

J1772: the Level 2 plug everyone shares

J1772 is the round five-pin plug on almost every Level 2 post at workplaces, malls, hotels and parking garages. It carries AC power only, so the speed is limited by your car's onboard charger, typically 7 to 11.5 kW. That adds roughly 20 to 35 miles of range per hour.

Tesla drivers can use any J1772 station with the small adapter that comes with the car. New NACS-port cars from other brands use the same approach.

CCS1: the fast-charging plug of the last decade

The Combined Charging System adds two large DC pins below a J1772 inlet, so one port on the car handles both Level 2 and fast charging. Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint DC units and most independent fast chargers use CCS1, at power levels from 50 kW up to 350 kW.

If your car was built before 2025 and is not a Tesla, it almost certainly charges fast through CCS1.

NACS: why everyone is switching

Tesla's connector is smaller and lighter than CCS1 and handles AC and DC through the same pins. After Tesla opened the design, SAE published it as standard J3400, and between 2023 and 2025 nearly every automaker selling in North America (Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Polestar, BMW, Honda, Toyota and others) committed to it.

For drivers this means two things. First, the Supercharger network, the largest fast-charging network in North America, is now open to many non-Tesla EVs. Second, charging networks such as Electrify America, EVgo, IONNA and ChargePoint are adding NACS cables to their own sites, so the plug you need is increasingly the one already hanging on the dispenser.

CHAdeMO: still around, but fading

CHAdeMO came from Japan and powered the first wave of fast chargers. In North America it is now found mainly on older dispensers next to a CCS1 cable, and it usually tops out around 50 kW. If you drive a Nissan Leaf, filter for CHAdeMO before you set off, because many new sites no longer include it.

How to check a station before you drive

1. Open the station page on ChargePulse and look at the connector list: each plug type shows its port count and maximum power.
2. Match it to your car's inlet. If you have an adapter, note the adapter's own power limit.
3. For Tesla Superchargers, check whether the site is listed as Tesla-only. Our Supercharger guide covers access for other brands.

Frequently asked questions

Is NACS the same as the Tesla plug?

Yes. NACS is the connector Tesla designed and opened to the industry in 2022. SAE standardized it as J3400, so you will see NACS, J3400 and Tesla plug used for the same connector.

Can I use a CCS charger with a NACS car?

Yes, with a CCS1-to-NACS adapter. Newer cars with a NACS port usually ship with or offer an approved adapter. Teslas need Tesla's own CCS adapter and a car that supports it.

Does every EV in North America use J1772 for Level 2?

Every non-Tesla EV sold before the NACS transition does. Teslas and new NACS-port cars use the same physical NACS plug for AC, and charge at J1772 stations with a small adapter.